On Friday September 19th at 1:39pm, APD officers were dispatched to the 7700 block of Canode on a possible vandalism and trespass in progress. The caller stated that he had caught a male and female inside a vacant residence and was attempting to detain them. The two juveniles took off running and the caller pursued them towards Westgate Mall. The suspects entered the mall near the JC Penny’s entrance and ran towards the food court area with the caller in pursuit. Westgate Mall Security Officers observed the commotion and proceeded to intervene.
A female employee of a business in the food court stepped out from behind the counter to see what was going on and was stabbed by the male suspect. The male and female continued on running and entered the Bealls Department store where they were confronted by Security Officers for the mall. The male suspect stabbed one Security Officer and was resisting their attempts to be taken into custody. A citizen who had observed the assault grabbed a nearby chair and struck the male, knocking him to the ground. The male juvenile was then secured and taken into custody.
The female employee and the Security Officer were transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The Security Officer did require immediate surgery.
The 16 year old juvenile was transported to a local hospital for treatment for his minor injuries while being taken into custody. Once he is released from the hospital he will be booked into the Youth Center of the High Plains on numerous charges. The male is reported to be a runaway out of another jurisdiction and has a directive to apprehend with an original charge of Burglary out of different jurisdiction. The female juvenile was taken to the police department for questioning.
This incident remains under investigation.
