Law enforcement officials said Monday they would implement a “zero tolerance” policy at the Circle Centre mall.
“We are going to be making examples of kids who are breaking the law or breaking the rules in the mall,” said Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Rick Hite.
Hite cautioned that it’s not just the mall that concerns police. Teens flocking downtown have started donnybrooks at bus stops, street corners and parks.
On Saturday night, it was a 16-year-old boy, arrested after he allegedly fired three shots near Capitol Avenue and Maryland Street. No one was injured by the gunfire, but police said he was involved in a skirmish that began at the mall and spilled outside.
It was the third incident involving rowdy youths this month and continues what city officials see as a troubling trend.
Despite the recent flurry of violence, however, mall owner Simon Property Group, says it has no plans to do what 77 other malls across the nation have done: require adult escorts for juveniles on weekend nights.
“We want the mall to be open and accessible to everyone at all hours,” said company spokesman Les Morris. “We know escorts are used elsewhere, but we feel we have the best security in the business now.”
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Source: Indianapolis Star
