TORRANCE, Calif. -- Police Sunday are still piecing together what caused a crowd of people to start fighting in one of the largest shopping malls in the nation.
An unruly crowd was brought under control by an estimated 100 police officers, one of whom was assaulted, at the Del Amo Fashion Center, police said Sunday. Eight people were arrested, according to police.
Officers and sheriff's deputies from El Segundo, Gardena, Hawthorne, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach were called in to assist Torrance police and mall security when a large and rowdy crowd near the AMC Theatre Del Amo 18 got out of control about 9:15 p.m. Saturday, according to Torrance police Lt. Mark Hein.
A police officer was punched in the face, said Hein, and was treated at the scene by paramedics. No other injuries were reported.
The eight people arrested were expected to be booked on charges including assaulting an officer and resisting arrest, Hein said. Some were juveniles and no names were released.
The Daily Breeze reported that mallgoers were evacuated from the center during the incident.
