Simon releases statement after ‘mall brawl’

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is reviewing a brawl that unfolded Saturday night at Castleton Square Mall.

The fight started in the food court, and then it eventually worked its way outside the mall to the front of the AMC theater. Police estimate the fight happened late in the 7 o’clock hour. During the fistfight, there were reports of gunshots, but police were not able to make that determination.

A day later, on Afternoon with Amos, residents were calling for changes to the popular mall. Currently there are no policies for unsupervised teens at Simon’s 112 regional malls in the country. According to an anonymous Castleton employee, unsupervised teens at the mall is a common occurrence.

“I’m talking about 9,10, 11, 12 year olds, sometimes 8 year olds, that are being dropped off on a regular basis,” said the anonymous call to Afternoons with Amos.

Late Monday, a PR firm released this statement on behalf of Simon:

IMPD beefed up patrols around the mall for the holiday season. The extra effort included bike patrol, horse patrol, and even regular patrol. No word yet on if the department plans on extending the extra police presence.

The department did not make any arrests on the scene because officers were more concerned about maintaining public safety and dispersing the crowd. Some in the crowd did take cellphone video of the brawl, and IMPD is reviewing the footage to determine if there will be an arrest.

“I feel as a country we left God out of a lot of things,” said a shopper named Linda. “We have tossed him out of a lot of things and we’ve had to deal with the consequences.”

If you know who may have been involved with the brawl you are urged to call IMPD. The number is 262-TIPS, or 262-8477. Remember your tip will remain anonymous.