Weekend curfew to be implemented at The Parks Mall in Arlington after fight among teens last weekend
Update: Revised 7:25 p.m. with information about the number of calls Arlington police have responded to at the mall this year.
Beginning this Friday, a weekend curfew for people 18 and under will be enforced at The Parks Mall at Arlington, the mall announced Wednesday.
After 2 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, people under 18 must be accompanied by someone who is 21 or older, the mall said.
The curfew, referred to as the Parental Guidance Required Program, is in response to a fight that broke out inside the building Saturday and ended with seven juveniles taken into custody.
“In response to the disruptive behavior last weekend, we made the difficult decision to implement a curfew program,” Lorie Lisius, senior general manager of the mall, said in a prepared statement. “The PGR program is intended to help provide a safe, peaceful experience at our shopping center.”
During curfew hours, public safety officers will check IDs at mall entrances. Valid forms of ID include a driver’s license or state-issued ID card, a military ID, a school ID card or passport.
People who are over 18 will be offered an optional wristband to wear while shopping. People under 18 or who do not have proper identification cannot enter the mall without an adult.
One adult may supervise any number of children ages 10 and under but may supervise only up to four children ages 11 and above, the mall said.
Arlington police Chief Al Jones said the department has a “strong working relationship” with the mall and supports the curfew.
“We fully support their decision to initiate the Parental Guidance Required Program, which aligns with our mutual goal to collaboratively and proactively ensure the mall remains a safe and welcoming place for all visitors,” Jones said in a prepared statement.
Saturday’s fight was the second at the mall this year. In January, five juveniles were taken into custody after a fight between 20 to 30 people.
Since Jan. 1, Arlington police have responded to 50 calls at the mall, the majority of which were for shoplifting, department spokesman Tim Ciesco said. Nine calls were for reports of assault in the building, the majority of which involved teenagers aged 15 to 17, Ciesco said.