In a dramatic scene captured on video, a large group of boisterous youths clashed with police officers outside a Bronx shopping center on Presidents’ Day. The confrontation led to the arrest of several minors.
Shortly after 2 p.m. on Monday, the NYPD received a 911 call reporting a disturbance at the Mall at Bay Plaza in Baychester. Officers arrived to find a crowd of approximately 100 to 200 young people causing a commotion.
Law enforcement officials repeatedly instructed the group to disperse. However, the situation quickly escalated, as evidenced by footage shared on social media showing the chaotic encounter. The video depicts individuals shouting and fleeing as officers attempted to control the youthful crowd, with some resisting arrest.
Participants, many of whom were out of school for the holiday, could be seen capturing the disorder on their smartphones. The police managed to detain several juveniles, although the specific charges they face have not been disclosed, and the total number of arrests remains unclear.
Other youngsters — who had the day off from school for Presidents’ Day — were spotted whipping out their cellphones to film the chaos.
Multiple juveniles were taken into custody as cops tried to break up the melee, police said. Their exact charges are pending, and the number of arrests was not immediately available.
The scene at the mall — which features over 150 stores — remained active into Monday evening. An investigation into the incident remains ongoing, cops said.
