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NILES -- Cafaro Company communications director Joe Bell said his company is taking seriously the disturbances that occurred over the past months at Eastwood Mall.
Bell said 10 teenagers have been sent letters from the company's legal staff, effectively banning them from the Eastwood Mall complex. He said the bans are "open ended."
Also as a result of incidents Feb. 13, Feb. 26, March 30 and Saturday, Bell said seven juveniles face criminal charges. Bell noted some of the incidents involved "teen girls fighting.
"We are in close contact with Niles police and the Trumbull County juvenile Prosecutor (Stanley Elkins). We are going to pursue these charges. We want people to know that those being unruly on the property are going to face consequences."
Bell said any parent who drives a teen to the mall complex knowing their child will be fighting also could face criminal charges.
"Our security officers are going to be vigilant in their patrols, especially on the weekend," Bell said, adding Niles off-duty officers also are helping out with security.
Niles police Capt. John Marshall confirmed the mall is employing one Niles officer at a time.
The Saturday incident involved two teens; at least one of whom already was on the banned list was spotted at the complex and was arrested.
"This was not another fracas; it was an enforcement action," Bell said "When they refused his (security officer's) order to leave the property, Niles police came in and arrested them. We'll continue to insist such individuals be prosecuted."
Bell said he canvassed other Cafaro-owned mall properties around the country, and he said several mentioned "rambunctiousness" by teens, but nothing reaching the criminal level.
"They could not come up with a good reason for why this is happening," Bell said about the teens' actions.
Security officers at the Eastwood Mall also will be enforcing a long-standing clothing rule, Bell said, in which a person's head cannot be covered.
"This has always been on the books, but it has been difficult to enforce because of the COVID regulations," Bell said referring to the face masks that were required during the pandemic. "But we don't have that now. We will come up to people who have their faces covered and politely ask them to remove the coverings while they are in the mall."