Arden Fair mall aims to stop violence amid citywide popup events for youths
Officials at Arden Fair mall are hoping to curtail post-holiday brawls which have plagued the shopping center over the past few years.
The mall has partnered with local organizations, as well as the city of Sacramento’s popup events program, in an effort to quell violence at the popular shopping destination. It’s incorporating the city’s larger ongoing program that was spearheaded by Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg and the Sierra Health Foundation after last year’s incidents at the mall.
Nathan Spradlin, the mall’s senior marketing manager, said that Thursday’s 5 p.m. closing — four hours earlier than usual on this day of the week — was part of an initiative to curb the reoccurring violence that typically rears its head after the holidays. That violence was seen Thursday night at two malls in Stockton, one of which was locked down while the other closed early after youths brawled.
Spradlin, who said the mall would return to normal hours Friday, said the mall typically shortens hours on the days before and after Christmas, but said the extra time would allow for coordination between Arden Fair and the groups taking part in the popup outside.
According to Officer Karl Chan, Sacramento Police Department spokesman, police documented one small fight between teenagers that occurred prior to the mall’s closure Thursday. Chan said the department has an annual holiday contract with the shopping center, but that police presence was not increased this season, compared to previous years.
“Over the last few years, a growing crowd has been gathering here with the sole purpose of having fights,” Spradlin said. “We’ve partnered with the Sacramento Police Department and community leaders in trying to deter that behavior. It was a very successful day.”
The popups, which began Thursday, are being placed around Sacramento through this weekend and next, and include other organizations such the Roberts Family Development Center and Always Knocking. Spradlin said volunteers can be easily identified as they will be wearing gold hooded sweatshirts. The Sierra Health Foundation announced where events would be on on its Facebook page.
“These organizations have people who are great at diffusing situations, having heart-to-hearts and resolving conflicts. It’s been a relatively calm day,” Spradlin said of the popup program run by the city.
Last December there were two brawls in a three-day span at Arden Fair Mall. One involved “at least a couple hundred juveniles that were here causing a disturbance and fighting,” according to police.
The mall had previously implemented a ban on unaccompanied minors during peak business hours during the 2016 holiday season, a move the American Civil Liberties Union contested as a violation of civil rights. After going without such a policy in 2017, the ban was brought back for a time after the 2018 incidents.
This story was originally published December 27, 2019 at 4:00 AM.