Edison Officials Demand Security Upgrades After Teen Mall Brawl Leads To 7 Arrests

EDISON, NJ — Following a large-scale disturbance at Menlo Park Mall that resulted in seven juvenile arrests, Edison Mayor Sam Joshi and Police Chief Thomas Bryan are calling for enhanced security measures at the shopping center.

Joshi and Bryan held a press conference on Monday, detailing the incident and outlining security demands.

The incident occurred Saturday evening when police were alerted to approximately 100 young people gathering at the mall around 8 p.m. The crowd quickly expanded to roughly 300 individuals, erupting into a brawl that disrupted mall operations. Edison Police required assistance from neighboring jurisdictions to restore order.

Authorities arrested seven juveniles, none of whom were Edison residents. The arrested individuals came from surrounding communities including Fords, Woodbridge, Hillsborough, New Brunswick, Linden, and Port Reading. Officials reported no weapons were recovered and no injuries occurred during the incident.

According to Joshi, the brawl was sparked as a result of a social media trend.

"This behavior will not be tolerated in Edison Township. We will ensure that Edison remains a safe community for all residents and visitors alike," Joshi stated on Monday.

Township officials are now demanding that Simon Properties, the mall's owner, implement several security enhancements:

• Installation of license plate readers throughout the property
• Additional surveillance cameras across the mall
• Significantly increased private security presence, especially during weekends and peak hours
• Consideration of a mandatory adult escort policy for juveniles during certain times

"My administration strives to have these expectations met in a timely manner. We look forward to our continued cooperation with Simon Properties," added Joshi.

Officials noted that Menlo Park Mall has experienced multiple incidents over the past year. While the police substation at the mall has helped reduce response times and improved processing during incidents, authorities emphasized that as private property, security ultimately remains Simon Properties' responsibility.

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