Four Teens Arrested In Philadelphia Mills Mall "Flash Mob" Fight

Four teenagers were arrested on Tuesday after a fight broke out during a flash mob at Philadelphia Mills Mall that was organized on social media, Philadelphia Police said.

Police said "hundreds of juveniles" were dropped off at the mall at about 3 p.m. Tuesday. Security attempted to prevent the kids from getting into the mall, but police said at some point the teens entered in the mall.

By about 5 p.m. about 30 teens were fighting in the mall food court. Officers assigned to patrols the mall ordered the teens to leave, but several refused.

Police said the first of the four arrested refused to leave and was yelling obscenities at police. Police grabbed the 14-year-old boy by the arm and attempted to escort him out of the mall when the second offender, a 17-year-old boy, attempted to intervene.

Police said the 17 year old came up behind the officer, grabbed his left arm and pulled him backwards in an attempt to free the 14 year old. The 17 year old grabbed the officer around his neck and tried to wrestle the officer down to the ground while ripping the officer’s patrol jacket and punching the officer in his head while yelling obscenities, according to police.

Both teens were then put in custody after more officers came to intervene with the incident, police said.

As police were attempting to take the 14 year old out of the mall in the initial interaction, a 15 year old boy punched the officer in the head then led police on a foot chase before being taken into custody, police said.

Police said when officers were attempting to disperse the crowd outside the mall, another 14 year old refused to leave the area and began yelling obscenities at the police. The teen left and returned to the area several times and was placed in custody, police said.

While in a holding cell, the teen broke free from one of the officers and attempted to flee from the cell room and he was taken to the ground, police said. While on the ground, the teen said he was going to "blow your head off" to police.

Police said after about two hours the mall's activity returned to normal but said the 300 to 400 teens were kicking cars and harassing patrons in the parking lot.

The three teens were charged with the following Aggravated Assault, Criminal Trespass, Causing/Risking Catastrophe, Criminal Mischief, Hinder Apprehension, Terroristic Threats, Simple Assault, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Resisting Arrest, Failure to Disperse, Harassment, Loiter and Prowl, and Disorderly Conduct-Fighting, police said.

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