Scottsdale PD chief: Looters were not allowed to vandalize Fashion Square
Jun 3, 2020, 4:35 AM | Updated: Jun 5, 2020, 9:50 am
(KTAR News 92.3 FM Photo/Peter Samore)
(KTAR News 92.3 FM Photo/Peter Samore)
PHOENIX — The Scottsdale chief of police said Tuesday his department did not strategically allow looting and vandalism to occur at Scottsdale Fashion Square over the weekend.
Multiple stores were vandalized and broken into Saturday night including Neiman Marcus, Urban Outfitters and the Apple Store, which resulted in millions of dollars in damages.
The following day, Scottsdale Fashion Square and a portion of Camelback Road were closed as a result.
“Yeah — some property damage occurred before we could respond, but we never gave up property and said ‘OK, have your way with this,'” Chief Alan Rodbell told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Gaydos and Chad Show.
As a result of last night’s criminal activity, Scottsdale’s Fashion Square Mall, as well as Camelback Rd from Goldwater Bl to Scottsdale Rd is CLOSED today. This area is to be avoided. Updates on last night’s activity will be provided later today. pic.twitter.com/GDclrlM0oC
— ScottsdalePD (@ScottsdalePD) May 31, 2020
“We built our response based on the intel that we had.”
Police initially only planned for 50 to 100 people to participate in the demonstrations at the shopping center, but an estimated 500 showed up and were not dispersed by law enforcement until around 5 a.m.
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Rodbell added that his department did what they could with the personnel they had available when property damage was initially reported.
Following eventual support from other Valley law enforcement agencies, there were roughly 250 officers on the ground to disperse those engaged in criminal activity.
“We didn’t observe any behavior that was worthy of shooting people,” Rodbell said.
During a press conference on Sunday, Scottsdale Assistant Police Chief Scott Popp confirmed law enforcement’s use of chemical weapons to secure the Fashion Square area.
Looters, not protesters, all teens and young adults, breaking into businesses and stealing from Scottsdale fashion Square. Shattered glass, stolen clothes cover the ground. Live at 11 PM @KTAR923 pic.twitter.com/AtDLS4CPme
— Peter Samore (@ktarpetersamore) May 31, 2020
“We did use chemical munitions,” he said “…Which we thought was totally appropriate.”
Scottsdale Fashion Square remains temporarily closed due to Saturday night’s criminal activity.
