AURORA, Colo. -- Aurora Police said officers evacuated, then closed the Town Center Aurora Monday evening because of multiple skirmishes and a large disturbance inside the mall.
#APDAlert: Large disturbance at @TCAurora.Mall is being closed and evacuated by APD. No one else is being will be permitted into the mall.
— Aurora Police Dept (@AuroraPD) December 27, 2016
Aurora Police said a post on social media told people there was going to be a fight at the Aurora mall.
Police said a fight started in the food court and soon there were 500 people involved.
Five juveniles were arrested, police said.
Two were hurt, one seriously when the fighting continued off the mall property.
"We had some additional skirmishes at Century 16 (Theater) and also at the RTD Park n Ride," said Amsler.
Police did not release any details about the victims or their injuries.
Videos from the scene, recorded by witnesses, showed police holding people on the ground and multiple people yelling.
Aurora police tackling and dragging teen age kids, no bigger than 120 pounds and using excessive force on these children. Stop the police pic.twitter.com/edKCur5k7Y
— Lala Muniz (@LalaMuniz4) December 27, 2016
NEW VIDEO from @CRepp7News of bloodied Aurora Mall patron being taken to ambulance. #Denver7 pic.twitter.com/axKkCNE2Co
— Marshall Zelinger (@7Marshall) December 27, 2016
"There was at least three or four police officers on each person, which was so unnecessary because they weren't running, they weren't resisting," said Bella Williams, who posted video of the aftermath on Snapchat.
"I was there working, it was crazy, the police did an amazing job," Cody Turner wrote on Facebook.
"I was there and the police officers were not using excessive force," said Claudia Simental on Facebook.
Simental said the kids refused to cooperate with the police officers and were a threat to other customers.
A security worker told Denver7 there were too many people in the mall and fights broke out.
A Denver7 viewer agreed.
"It was way overpacked," Marissa Ornelas wrote on Facebook.
Denver Police and the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office assisted Aurora officers in evacuating and closing the mall, police said.
The Town Center Aurora mall is on East Alameda Ave., just off Interstate 225.
Mall officials said the mall is expected to reopen at 10 a.m. on Tuesday.
The mall is closing early this evening due to a disturbance. No immediate threats exist. We will open tomorrow at 10 a.m.
— Town Center Aurora (@TCAurora) December 27, 2016
There were also disturbances at other malls across the country on Monday including a mall in Indianapolis anda mall in Aurora, Illinois.
Aurora [Colorado] Police said they do "not believe there is any connection" between the Aurora Colorado and Aurora Illinois incidents.
More Colorado news:
- Teen shot in Jefferson County Friday has died
- Man arrested for allegedly trying to kill wife in crash
- Suspected thief shot in the hand by deputy
- Small earthquake hits Colorado
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