The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Carson Station warned residents to steer clear of the area near the SouthBay Pavilion Mall on Saturday evening after a disturbance involving hundreds of juveniles.
Juveniles gathered as a trash can was lit on fire outside the mall in Carson, at 20700 Avalon Blvd., said sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Tracy Koerner.
When deputies responded at 5:20 p.m., the youths ran into the the mall, a nearby strip mall and surrounding neighborhoods, he said.
Some teens committed “sporadic thefts” of petty items as they ran through the mall, Koerner said.
In a social media statement late Saturday, LASD said the disturbance involved about 200 juveniles and that the disturbance also involved illegal fireworks being set off in a store in the mall.
“Carson deputies responded swiftly and issued dispersal orders. The group refused to comply, and surrounding law enforcement agencies responded to assist,” the statement said.
Deputies spent five hours rounding up the teens and detained more than 10 juveniles and contacted their parents, Koerner said. Some juveniles were issued citations and will be required to appear in court, LASD said.
NBC Los Angeles reported that video from a news helicopter showed around 20 law enforcement cruisers on scene with officers surrounding about 30 teens.
No injuries were reported.
“Criminal activity of this nature is disruptive to our businesses and harmful to our community and will not be tolerated,” the Sheriff’s Department said. “This incident will be fully investigated, and we aim to hold all those responsible accountable.”
Saturday’s disturbance came three and a months after law enforcement braced for possible teen takeovers at the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance and at SouthBay Pavilion. The gatherings law enforcement was concerned about at that time did not pan out.
Anyone with information on Saturday’s disturbance can contact the Carson Sheriff’s Station at 310-830-1123.
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