Mall Brawl Raising Safety Concerns At Mayfair (Milwaukee)

http://www.wisn.com/news/18384739/detail.html ^ | December 30, 2008

[hercuroc]

WAUWATOSA, Wis. -- A brawl at the Mayfair Mall is causing people to raise questions about the ongoing security problems at the shopping center.

Mall administrators have not commented on the incident.

Police said that a fight broke out between two men outside the mall’s Wet Seal store on Friday.

After some initial brawling, the fight spilled into the store and as many as eight more people joined the fray.

Police said that the battle turned the store into a mess and all the combatants scattered.

Mall surveillance cameras helped capture three of the people who allegedly took part; they are all facing disorderly conduct citations.

“It's scary because young kids like my brother go there and he wouldn't go back shopping there by himself with his friends if there's fights there without a parent,” Heidi Fregien, of Wauwatosa, said.

Word of the brawl drew mixed reaction among shoppers, some of whom said that they don’t feel unsafe at the mall.

“I think the problems have been pretty sporadic here over the course of the years. [The] movie theatre, I know they say brings in a lot of the problems,” Random Lake resident Darin Retzer said.

Mayfair has faced similar problems in the past. In 2002, a fight at the theatre made headlines.

In 2007, the mall instituted new rules after several other incidents. It required an adult chaperone for anyone under 18 on Fridays and Saturdays.

Those rules didn't apply at the time, officers said.

Of the 10 alleged fighters, the three men taken into custody were adults.

"I think they need to up security, if it's that big of a problem, [you should] have more cops present," shopper John Murray said. "When I was young, you had your parents drop you off at the mall or the movies, you hung out and you caused trouble. That's what they're doing."

Murray said fights have been part of the shopping mall culture as long as he can remember.

All three suspects have dates in Wauwatosa Municipal Court in February. They face $600 disorderly conduct tickets.

[gracesdad]

I’ve seen the video. The problems at my local mall were caused my a mixture, but mostly redneck white toughs. In Russia, the punks who randomly beat people up for fun are all white. Again, what does the color of any of them have to do with anything?

[Thrownatbirth]

She’s probably younger but they keep her outside all winter.
Way too many live remotes.

[TommyC1]

These guys very well could have attended “MIT.” Many years ago, Milwaukee Area Technical College (a 2 year community college) used to be named Milwaukee Institute of Technology (MIT) because it taught technical stuff like running a machine tool. Endless confusion, hilarity and jokes re Milwaukee MIT vs. Massachusetts MIT.

[hercuroc]

That movie was awesome!

Warriors come out to plaaaayyy!

[2111USMC]

John Murray said. "When I was young, you had your parents drop you off at the mall or the movies, you hung out and you caused trouble. That's what they're doing."

When I was young, we didn't.

[TommyC1]

It matters because in Milwaukee, this never happens with non-blacks, especially at Mayfair. It’s the culture that produces this behavior, not the skin color. It just happens that in Milwaukee, the culture of violence exits in the black community. BTW, this isn’t racist, its just the facts in this town. Other places might be different.

[I see my hands]

"And that has what to do with anything"

As a candidate Obama allowed that certain anti social behaviors and values were inherent to the white race. 53% of the voters found such analysis acceptable.

Forget it if you think that crap is going to be a one way street anymore.

[ezo4]

I used to, I left in 91. Where are the ghetto boundaries now? when I left it was heading west up past 60th going up Fond Du Lac to the north out of the ghetto. Capital court mall was closed and I think torn down.

I grew up in the St. Marget Mary Parish area - 92nd and Lisbon /Capital Dr.

North Ridge is boarded up?

[gibsosa]

bump

[ezo4]

I went there after my 4 year degree. The teachers back then at night school were really good. they were professionals that actually had a day job. I learned there.

[TC Rider]

We had a similar ‘brawl’ at Triangle Towne Center in Raleigh a few months ago. Several hundred urban youths clashed in the mall and the parking lot.

In the following days, youths of all colors were banned from the mall after dark unless accompnied by parents.

Those kids of the color not found to be rioting were somewhat put out by the non-deserved punishment.

[Secret Agent Man]

Northridge. Grand Avenue. Capitol Court. it’s not like it is unpredictable.

[MplsSteve]

Your post is 100% accurate.

The bus lines and the theatre ARE the problem at Mayfair Mall. A black guy at my workplace (who’s originally from Milwaukee) says the same thing. He’s one of those few black guys who’s a white wannabe.

Wauwatosa is no prize either these days. Being a first-ring suburb, it’s starting the see some of the dregs of Milwaukee move in there - especially in the apartments.

[Rembrandt]

“Sorry wrong color.”
—
‘And that has what to do with anything?’

---

It has plenty to do with it if 12% of the population is habitually terrorizing the remaining 88% and people are intimidated and unwilling to confront their attackers.

Tyranny of the minority - you’ve probably never heard that term.

[tjd1454]

Born & raised in Milwaukee. Lived years ago near Mayfair. At that time (the 80’s) it was the city’s premier mall. Haven’t been back in many years; hard to imagine that people are afraid to go there. But then again, I can remember when Northridge was the place to go (Actually, I can remember when it was a cornfield). Once was a very nice area. Can’t believe the mall is now boarded up.

I also remember Capital Court, Milwaukee’s first mall. For years it was a high class place to shop, back in the 60’s. But slowly it went downhill along with the neighborhood. If I’m not mistaken it was razed years ago.

My family now lives on the south side, and when I’m back in town we shop at Southridge, which is still quite a nice area to shop.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Let’s start over, shall we?

In this post... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2156517/posts?page=2#2

...two white guys were pictured. As a joke.

In this post ... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2156517/posts?page=3#3

...someone said, Sorry, wrong color.

Meaning. The color of the yutes in the video were a different color than the picture in post two.

It was not meant as a racial slur.

Have a nice evening.

[Surtur]

WARRIORS, come out and pla...ay.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

1. Born and raised in Wauwatosa, living most of my formative years (1962-1975) living about 3/4 of a mile west of Mayfair. Can still recall it as an unenclosed mall, the advent of the ice rink in the center of the enclosed mall, the construction of the outer perimeter office towers, etc.
2. I worked at the mall (landscaping crew) the summer between HS and college, then the summer between my freshman year and sophomore year of college. At that time, mid-1970's the mall had a Barney Fife-like security guard who drove a powder blue International Scout with a blue light on the dash. Routinely the guy would follow black people who walked thorough the parking lot, perhaps enough to intimidate them into not coming back.
3. There were essentially no black patrons then (mid 70's).
4. Northridge Mall was deconstructed years ago. Some stand alone stores exist on the property that was once the mall - but the problem of unruly mall patrons was eliminated by eliminating the mall itself.
5. The area around Mayfair has seen a number of these rumbling incidents - several years ago the Denny's on North avenue about 1/3 of a mile west of the shopping center erupted into a free for all at 3:00 am - when black patrons started throwing anything that wasn't bolted down. The security videos were a hoot, until I realized that my parents still live about 3/4 of a mile west of Mayfair Mall. They have spent 35 years watching this stuff move west across Milwaukee County. I hope they can still sell their home and move out.