After more than 70 juveniles were detained and cited Saturday night in connection with a major disturbance at a mall in Carson, some parents and relatives of the kids are calling the law enforcement presence excessive.  

Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded to the SouthBay Pavillion Mall around 5:30 p.m. on reports of a large and unruly gathering of an estimated 200 minors that prompted the mall to close earlier than normal.  

Authorities said that some of the juveniles were setting off illegal fireworks inside a store at the mall and that someone else started a fire inside of a trashcan.  

Dispersal orders were issued but the crowd reportedly refused to comply. Officials said that more law enforcement backup was called to the scene as the teens were disrupting business and endangering shoppers. 

Sheriff’s deputies set up a perimeter and were, at one point, seen jumping into bushes to detain some of the teens, many of whom were seen scrambling to get out of the mall as law enforcement officers arrived.  

Jamila Buie’s 16-year-old nephew was one of the 73 teens detained and told KTLA that she believes the law enforcement response was over the top.  

“I feel like they should’ve only detained the ones that started the fire, not all the kids,” she explained to KTLA’s Carlos Saucedo. “It’s only 30 people. They said they had video of the kids that started the fire.” 

Deputies issued the minors citations for failure to disperse and disturbing the peace. Parents were forced to come and collect their children, with some saying their kids should never have been held by deputies.  

“He’s 11-year-old, exactly,” Amber Lyn, whose son was detained, told KTLA. “No paperwork, never been in trouble. He gets straight A’s and he’s an athlete.”  

A similar incident occurred late last year at the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance that led to curfews and the requirement that minors be accompanied by adults while in the shopping center.  

At the mall in Carson, there were no reports of any injuries or thefts from any shops Saturday night.  

On Sunday, the mall was back open for business, though with a visible presence of security on hand.  

In a news release on Sunday, Carson Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes said: 

“Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes commented, “The safety and well-being of our residents and businesses are our top priority. We are taking immediate steps to ensure such incidents do not recur. Our community’s strength lies in our ability to come together and address challenges head-on. I commend the Sheriff’s Department for their quick action and the community for their cooperation.” 

While it’s unclear what those steps might entail, there were other shoppers who said they were rattled by the incident.  

“I come to the mall often here,” San Pedro resident Michelle Brooks said. “I think it’s ridiculous. Parents need to get a hold of their children at all times.”  

Evacuation orders have been issued for the Mt. Baldy Ski resort as firefighters battle fast-moving wildfire burning in steep terrain, authorities announced.  

“Mt. Baldy Ski Resort Lift#1 is open to for hikers to assist in evacuation,” SBSC fire officials said in a post to X, formerly Twitter. “There are NO evacuations orders or warnings for the community of Mt. Baldy.”  

The “Vista Fire,” which was burning just northwest of Lytle Creek, was first reported at around 10 a.m., with crews from the San Bernadino County Department assisting crews from the San Bernardino National Forest Service. 

At that time, fire officials said the blaze, which was not threatening homes, was at 9 acres.  

In an update just before 3 p.m. by officials at Cal Fire, the wildfire had grown to some 100 acres.

Officials said that more than 250 firefighting personnel have been assigned to the Vista Fire. So far, there have been no reports of any injuries.  

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.  

Flags were burned by vandals at a memorial for veterans in Lakewood sometime in the last few days, according to the city’s Mayor.

In a post to Facebook on Saturday afternoon, Mayor Todd Rogers blasted the actions of unknown vandals who allegedly burned American and MIA-POW flags placed at Veterans Memorial Plaza in Lakewood’s Del Valle Park.

“On behalf of the entire Lakewood City Council, I am saddened and angered to report that our American flag and POW-MIA flag were burned by vandals at our beloved Veterans Memorial Plaza at Del Valle Park sometime over the past 48 hours,” Rogers said. “The memorial itself also sustained some minor damage in the form of burn marks to a flag pole and concrete walkway. The flags appear to have then been burned on top of a nearby yellow sawhorse barrier that asks people to treat the memorial with respect.”

Rogers continued to say that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will investigate the incident. He asked any residents or businesses within the vicinity of the park to check any security footage between July 4 and 6 for suspicious-looking individuals.

“I know I speak on behalf of my City Council colleagues and all Lakewood residents in decrying this shameful act of vandalism that shows great disrespect to the men and women who have served our nation, including those honored at the memorial who gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedoms that these cowardly vandals abused,” Rogers said.

According to Rogers, repairs and replacement flags should be in place within the next few days.

Veterans Memorial Plaza, created in 1964 and renovated in 2015, displays a replica of a Korean War-era Douglas jet fighter mounted on top of an aircraft carrier. It hosts Lakewood’s Memorial Day festivities each year.