Authorities in Douglasville, Atlanta, issued a statement telling parents to supervise their children following a major brawl at the Arbor Place mall that caused disruption and scared the shoppers.
In a Facebook post, the Douglassville Police Department reminded parents to keep an eye on their children's activities, the people they interact with, and where they go. The police also told parents they should not expect cops and mall security to look after their kids as they are "not there to raise your children."
"Parents need to make sure their children are safe and not involved in criminal activity or activities that can quickly unravel and unfold placing them in harm's way," the police said, adding that charges will be made against those involved in the brawl after the investigations.
What happened at Arbor Place mall?
Numerous bystanders captured the brawl on video phones, which could help the investigations. The fight broke out at the second level near the cinema on a Saturday afternoon, with the kids punching, shoving, and yelling at each other.
When the brawl started, one shopper told WSB-TV Atlanta that she saw people running away and stores closing. She expressed her frustration about the lack of supervision from the children's parents. Another shopper, however, believes this was an isolated incident, and she will not be deterred from going to the mall again as the cops were able to manage the situation.
But this was not the first violence involving teenagers at Arbor Place mall. In mid-August, a group of teenagers was apparently arranging a drug deal that turned into a shooting at the parking lot near the movie theater.
The police arrested two teenagers, between 16 to 17 years old, who were attempting to rob their victim, a 16-year-old drug dealer, at around 6:30 p.m. on a weekend. The victim was shot in the leg and was taken to the hospital. The teens have been charged as adults and were jailed without bond, per 11 Alive.
In 2020, gunfire ensued in the parking lot but no one was hit. One person, however, was injured as people were frantic and rushed to get away from the area. The mall went into lockdown, but the police were not able to catch the perpetrators, who were said to be young women.
The mall has a Youth Escort Policy
Stacey Keating, the Arbor Place mall spokesperson, said they have a good partnership with the local police besides mall security. The theater area also has its own security to ensure that the shopping site remains a safe place.
Given the incidents of teen delinquency, the mall established a Youth Escort Policy in 2017 that disallows children under 18 years old to be unaccompanied at the mall after 4:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. They must be supervised by an adult or guardian over 21 or their parents.
Kids who work at the mall are excused from the policy but need to provide proof of their employment if they are questioned by security.
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