One of the latest teen TikTok-generated takeovers at a Delaware shopping mall resulted in six teenagers being arrested, after a fight broke out in the parking lot of the Christiana Fashion Center.
In select cities across the U.S., mall developers and state and city officials are dealing with these periodic events that are fueled by social media posts that in some cases have brought together hundreds of teenagers, and led to disruptive behavior, property damage and fights. Businesses, malls and roller rinks have taken security measures. And in Connecticut, police in West Hartford and Manchester also warned area residents of the possibility of teen takeovers at the Westfarms shopping mall and a Cinemark respectively.
Related Articles
Delaware State Police officers were called to shopping center on Saturday at approximately 6:30 p.m., after receiving numerous reports that about 100 juveniles were fighting in the parking lot. State troopers and police officers from several other police departments in the area attempted to disperse the large crowd and have them leave the area. Several refused to leave and additional fights broke out, according to a spokesperson for the Delaware State Police.
You May Also Like
Six individuals were arrested including a 15-year-old male from Wilmington, Del., who was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and trespass in the third degree. As state troopers tried to arrest the juvenile, he ran, but he was taken into custody after being tasered. He was later arraigned before the Justice of the Peace Court 11 and released on $1,101 unsecured bond.
Three other 15-year-old males and a 14-year-old male — all of whom are from Wilmington — and a 13-year-old male from Elkton, Md., were charged with disorderly conduct and trespass in the third degree and were each released with a criminal summons.
The incident occurred six weeks after the Christiana Mall put into place a parental guidance policy for unaccompanied minors on Fridays and Saturdays from 3 p.m. until closing. During that time frame, visitors, who are 17 or younger, must be accompanied by a parent or a supervising adult, who is at least 21.
A media request to the Christiana Fashion Center was unreturned Monday.
Visitors to the mall’s online site are advised that proof of age may be required for the youth or supervising adult. Those who lack proper identification may be asked to leave the property. The guidelines also noted, “Guests who do not act responsibly or follow center policies may be asked to leave. If they fail or refuse to leave the property, they may be arrested and prosecuted for criminal trespass.”
Such guidelines and precautions are being taken in certain cities as TikTok takeovers are causing disruption in some areas. Due to crowds of teenagers swarming shopping centers and parking lots, and in some instances damaging property, cities such as Houston; Fresno, Calif.; Milwaukee, Wisc.; Chicago; Charlotte, N.C., and Philadelphia have prompted some officials and mall owners to periodically implement curfews for unaccompanied teenagers at night.