November 23, 2010 Police-security arrest teens in mall brawl ww.privateofficer.com
Fort Smith Ark Nov 23 2010
Fort Smith police arrested three teenagers Sunday after investigators claim a large fight broke out at the Fort Smith Central Mall between possible gang members. Officers believe all of the teenagers involved attend local high schools.
Two fist sized holes have been filled in outside a nail salon in the mall, evidence of a fight from Sunday. “With school being out and holidays coming up, this is a place that juveniles are more and more frequenting to,” said Sergeant Daniel Grubbs, of the Fort Smith Police Department.
Officers believe the fight stemmed from a stabbing earlier this year near the Arkansas-Oklahoma State Fair. Investigators think the victim from that earlier incident saw the person who allegedly stabbed him. “Some type of tensions that erupted through the fair and ultimately led to them reencountering each other at the mall again,” said Grubbs.
Police claim the two groups took the fight inside the nail salon. Workers say the young people came inside cursing and fighting, then moved back outside the salon. Next, officers think another fight broke out near a pretzel store and say that is when someone pulled out a knife. Police say witnesses also heard someone in the large group rack a gun.
Officials with Central Mall did not want to comment on camera about the specifics, but did say they have well trained mall security that include off duty police officers. A mall representative says they increase the number of mall security officers over the holidays.
Fort Smith police want to stress they still believe the mall is a safe place to go. Investigators say an off duty police officer and mall security guard tried to break up the fight.
Fort Smith police will continue to investigate the incident and say additional arrests could follow.
Source:5 News
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