Teens brawl at Franklin Park Mall

TOLEDO, Ohio (WUPW) - TOLEDO, Ohio (WUPW) -- Police detectives are investigating what witnesses are calling an outbreak of fights Saturday that happened at Westfield Franklin Park Mall.

The violence involved juveniles. Several of them were arrested over the weekend.

"We need to reiterate that there's a curfew law for kids in Toledo. You can't have them just roam around without any type of guidance," said Keith Jordan of Juveniles Living Justly Vision Outreach.

Jordan said he and the people he works with deal with the type of violence seen at the mall on a daily basis.

"You have bullying going on, kids being picked on for no good reason," he said. "What we are trying to do is redirect their mentality, redirect them from all of the social ills that they are facing."

Police aren't releasing much information, and neither are mall representatives. The Feb. 13 incident is the latest in a rash of outbursts and is raising awareness to teen violence.

Witnesses say it was like a mob scene. The brawls unfolded just after 7 p.m. and lasted for at least two hours until the mall closed.

"What we have to do is let these children know that there are other agencies other opportunities out there, not just the mall," Jordan said. "You can go somewhere safe and fun - also be productive positively. They have to respect us, and then take pride in what they are doing."

If you were a witness to Saturday's mass brawl, you are asked to contact police at 419-255-1111. You can remain anonymous.