To be fair, this sounds like a brawl that started after one guy who was banned from the mall decided to go there anyway. The mall has the right to set its own rules about who can come in, and refusing to leave is trespassing, no matter how silly the rule being broken is.
David | 12.31.07 - 10:08 am | #

David,

Sure they do, I wouldn't argue that point. How though, expelling someone from private property demands a police helicopter, nearly two dozen officers, and 2 dogs is beyond me.

On a whole I'm much more worried about our ever present police state, than say, some mall having a stupid rule about how low you can wear your pants.
Rob | Homepage | 12.31.07 - 10:24 am | #

Well, the helicopter and canine units are certainly overkill, and I have no doubt that the whole thing was a ridiculous spectacle. But I can understand the need to have the police come and arrest these people. I mean, what else can you do if you say "Sir, you have to leave." and he replies with "Make me"?
David | 12.31.07 - 1:22 pm | #

Why couldn't it be treated in the same way as self-defense? My understanding of the law (and I'm not a lawyer, but I do have a roommate studying for the bar, which in my mind makes me an legal expert) is that I'm legally allowed to defend myself against attack, but only in a corresponding manner to the attack.

How's the police response square with the offence of tresspasing? And the original offence wouldn't even suggest violence or any other criminal activity that might demand the reaction. Arrest him, arrest his family if you have cause. But the spectacle caused, from the little I know, was in no way appropriate.
Rob | Homepage | 12.31.07 - 2:28 pm | #

I just went to the Wellington Green Mall and the Abercrombie & Fitch store has a big poster at their front door with a handsome boy, shirtless, facing away from the camera, with his jeans so low as to show his butt crack. Call out the helicopters! Oh, never mind, the Abercrombie model is a white boy.
Dana | 01.18.08 - 6:22 pm | #