Arrests made in mall parking lot assault
The Winston-Salem Police Department has made two arrests and identified several other juveniles believed to be responsible for the assault of two adults outside Hanes Mall last weekend.
Here’s what we know: just after 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 28, officers were called to the mall to help off-duty officers on a reported fight in progress involving a group of juveniles in the parking lot in front of TGI Fridays Restaurant. The investigation revealed that LaTina Melton, 34, and Vincent Pearsall, 41, were at the mall picking up their daughter when a fight broke out.
A cell-phone recording of the altercation, which has been shared on social media hundreds of times, shows a group of teens arguing with the couple for a brief moment before the fight breaks out. During the fight, both Melton and Pearsall were kicked, punched and thrown to the ground. The group of juveniles also stole Melton’s purse during the altercation. Pearsall and Melton have said they were at the mall picking up their daughter, who said the same group of teenagers responsible for the attack, threatened her while she was shopping inside the mall.
On Monday, Nov. 30, the WSPD arrested Brandon Crosby, 18, and Tynaysha Davis, 18, for their involvement in the assault. Six juveniles have also been charged in connection with the assault as well.
The assault in the parking lot comes just a week after a juvenile was shot in the face outside Hanes Mall. And in August, three juveniles were arrested after a fight broke out between two groups of teenagers inside the mall.
Earlier this week, Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough announced that beginning Thursday, Dec. 3, off-duty deputies with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Department will be providing extra security at the mall throughout the holiday season.
The mall has also made changes to its Youth Escort Policy. Shoppers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult after 3 p.m. Monday-Thursday and all day on Friday and the weekend. Unescorted youth will be asked to leave the mall when the policy is in effect.
