ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – Greece Ridge Mall closed early Thursday due to overcrowding with fights later starting outside, Police confirm.
According to Greece Police, officers responded around 6:00 p.m. at the request of mall security and assisted in clearing the property due to ‘large and disorderly groups of teens and young adults’.
Police said once outside of the mall, several groups of teens started fighting in the area. Officers were able to disperse the groups for public safety and arrested two 16-year-olds in the process.
According to a statement from The Mall at Greece Ridge, the closure was due to a large number of teens running throughout the mall creating disruptions and refusing to leave, and this was planned by people on social media to happen at several malls. Greece Ridge Mall also stated that RTS sent extra buses to get those teens home.
Greece Police say they were able to clear the mall without incident due to a pre-established plan that included dedicated detail assigned to the mall to address potential disorderly behavior during the holiday season. The Mall at Greece Ridge suggests the plan was a precaution due to the various posts on social media.