No more off-duty deputies for Columbia mall after cinema brawl, says Richland County sheriff
After brawls broke out Sunday at the Village at Sandhill mall movie theater following a discounted ticket event, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department has said it will no longer provide off duty deputies for security at the popular shopping plaza.
Monday’s announcement came after a fight that broke out Sunday afternoon ended in the arrest of two teens, according to a statement released by the sheriff’s department. But it was just the latest incident at the popular outdoor shopping and dining plaza, which has struggled for more than a decade to strike a balance between businesses, families and some unruly younger patrons.
“We cannot do this alone,” Sheriff Leon Lott said. “No amount of law enforcement will take the place of involved parents and community partnerships. This incident was a significant drain on our resources.”
On Sunday, Regal cinemas across the country offered $4 tickets for any movie in honor of National Cinema Day. The promotion attracted large crowds of teens at Sandhill, according to the sheriff’s department, which criticized the theater chain for not letting the department know about the event in advance.
Neither Regal Cinemas not its parent company, Cineworld, responded to a request for comment.
By early evening Sunday, multiple fights had broken out and had spread to other businesses, according to deputies.
“911 was flooded with calls and RCSD deputies responded from across the county,” according to the sheriff’s department.
Two juveniles were arrested, one for assaulting a deputy and another for assault and disorderly conduct, the sheriff’s department said in its news release.
On Monday, the sheriff’s department said that it will no longer provide “special duty deputies” for security. Deputies on special duty are off duty but in uniform. They are able to make arrests but are paid by the hosts of the event.
Typically, event hosts alert the department at least several days in advance of a planned gathering, said a sheriff’s department spokesperson.
The sheriff’s department said that it had previously attempted “numerous times” to work with the theater and stores in the Village at Sandhill.
“All our efforts (have) proven futile. Some of the challenges stem from places like the movie theater, grocery stores, the inner and outer perimeter each having separate management,” the sheriff’s department said in a statement.
The mall has “been trying to get away with the minimum amount to make people feel safe,” said Perry Bradley Jr., the executive director and founder of Building Better Communities, a Columbia based organization that focuses on youth violence.
Before a fight broke out at the Sandhill mall, the sprawling shopping complex had struggled for more than a decade with what to do with young people. In 2009, the mall implemented a 6 p.m. curfew for teens aged 16 and younger. Teens were required to be accompanied by an adult after that time.
The policy stated that “Unaccompanied youth who exit the cinemas, a restaurant, or store after 6:00 pm waiting for a ride home must remain in the areas designated specifically for that purpose.” It is unclear if the policy is still in effect.
Restaurants and stores had complained that “swarms” of teens had been hurting business for years.
“We know something is likely going to happen every time we see all these kids out here,” an employee of seafood restaurant Bluefin told WISTV in 2018. “It’s a really big problem for Sandhill.”
Sunday’s melee may have brought those fears to life.
In an incident reported provided to The State, a deputy recounted being flagged down by a citizen who alerted the deputy to a fight in front of the movie theater. When the deputy arrived, they saw a crowd of 20 to 30 juveniles that appeared to be watching a fight.
The crowd fled when the deputy activated their lights and sirens. One teenage girl was arrested after she allegedly got in an altercation with deputies. The teen allegedly became “loud” and “boisterous” after deputies declined to help her search for her phone. Deputies say that the unnamed teen was uncooperative and refused several opportunities to call her parents and so the decision was made to take her into emergency protective custody.
As she was being escorted to the police car, the teen allegedly kicked an unidentified individual in the left knee, according to a partially redacted incident report. She was later charged with bribery after allegedly offering deputies $150 to release her.
When deputies contacted her mother, she said that she was in Greenville and “didn’t know” how her daughter made her way down to Sandhill.
The teen was transported to the youth wing of the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
This story was originally published August 30, 2023 at 6:30 AM.