Update: Fashion Square Mall Increases Security, Patrols

Back to HomePage
Updated: 6:45 PM Mar 9, 2010 Update: Fashion Square Mall Increases Security, Patrols Albemarle County Police increased security at the Fashion Square Mall in Charlottesville after last Friday's large-scale fight among teenagers. Posted: 6:40 PM Mar 9, 2010 Reporter: Bianca Spinosa Email Address: bianca.spinosa@newsplex.com

Font Size:

March 9, 2010

Albemarle County Police increased security at the Fashion Square Mall in Charlottesville after last Friday's large-scale fight among teenagers.
Police tell the Newsplex that it was not a gang-related incident.

Starting this week, mall patrons will begin noticing more of a police presence both inside and outside of the mall. Police cars patrolled the Fashion Square Mall Tuesday, and kept a watch over the back entrance near the CTS bus stop.

Elieen Martin, a frequent shopper and nearby resident, still has concerns, however, about Friday's brawl.

"It does make me very uncomfortable. I will not go over there at night when it's dark," says Martin.

The mall is always a hangout for teens, but that's not where these fights are starting. Karen Waters works with youth in the community. She says these fights escalate on Facebook.

"We all do it; when we were kids you go someplace and you gather. What we didn't do, though, is we didn't have the capacity to use texting and other social networking to organize ourselves and carry grudges into public places," says Waters, Executive Director of the Quality Community Council.

An Albemarle County High School teacher tells the Newsplex that school officials are working with the students involved in the fight. Inter-personal conflicts tend to fuel them.

"A young man told me once: Ms. Karen, if I'm dating somebody later on, I don't know that after I broke up with her, she's going out with my best friend. There's so few girls to date." It's part of being in a small community," says Waters.

Even though bystanders are rarely made targets in these kinds of fights, Eileen Martin isn't taking any chances.

"I can walk there, but I will drive there instead and park on the other side where there aren't all these kids hanging out," says Martin.

The investigation is ongoing. Albemarle County Police are working closely with Albemarle County Schools in handling the case.

In light of what happened, the Quality Community Council will be holding their monthly anti-gun violence rally Friday, March 12th. They will meet at the Region 10 in Charlottesville.

Latest Comments

Posted by: come on on Mar 11, 2010 at 11:22 PM

only mall that doesnt have a toy store??????

Posted by: The Dude Location: Greene County on Mar 10, 2010 at 12:05 PM

Go to any town in America that has a Mall and you will find teenagers "hanging out" every afternoon and evening. As long as they are spending their parents money and not causing any problems these shouldn't be an issue. However, in spite of what local law enforcement thinks, there are gangs, and they will cause trouble. A little extra security helps. The schools and law enforcement need to pull their heads out of the sand and start acknowledging the gang issue. Heaven forbid that Richmond or D.C. styles gangs operate in C-ville! That would be just bad for business; i.e., follow the money, folks.

Posted by: concerned on Mar 10, 2010 at 10:58 AM

When we were 15, or in that age group, did we want to hang out at a library!?!?! Come on now, let's not forgot we were once that age. Not all teenagers that hang out at the mall are drug dealers or thieves. Ignorant! Don't criticize all teens, some are good kids.

Click here to post or read all 14 comments.

Live News	Weather Now	Desktop Alert
Mobile	iPhone App	Text Alerts
Facebook	Twitter	YouTube