Towson Mulls Curfew After Teens Throw Rocks At Police

TOWSON, Md. (WJZ) -- New security concerns in Baltimore County after police respond to a disorderly group of teenagers outside the Towson mall on Saturday night.

An officer was hit by a rock thrown by one of the teens, and roads in the area were shut down.

Tracey Leong explains there could be major changes coming.

WJZ spoke to Towson Councilman David Marks. He says there's always been problems with loitering in the downtown area, but now it's getting out of control.

WJZ has obtained cell phone video from a witness who says chaos broke out just as the mall was closing.

An officer is seen in the video wrestling with a person across from the Towson Town Center, where dozens of police officers were called to control hundreds of rowdy teens, who then began throwing rocks at police.

"That's completely unacceptable, absolutely unacceptable. That should not happen," said Towson Councilman David Marks.

Councilman Marks is concerned that the situation escalated so quickly--even turning violent.

"I think I'm looking for mall management really to step up here and to try to propose some improvements," said Marks.

WJZ tried reaching out to the Towson Town Center. They declined to go on camera, instead referring us to their code of conduct, which says this behavior is absolutely unacceptable.

Prohibited behavior includes unnecessarily blocking walkways, roadways or storefronts, running, horseplay or disorderly conduct and excessive loitering. Violators could be arrested.

Councilman Marks is now looking to enforce a curfew.

"I think an underage escort policy. If you're there after a certain time, you have to be accompanied by a parent or guardian," he said.

And Baltimore County police say enforcing a curfew would help control the crowds.

"Saturday night was an unusual situation. This was a particularly large and unruly crowd of young people," said Elise Armacost, Baltimore County police spokesperson.

Shoppers are having mixed reactions to the idea.

"The mall is the place for teenagers to go to a lot of the time. I don't think I'd necessarily be in favor," said Molly Duke, mall patron.

"It could help. I know they've done something similar at Hunt Valley," said Hope Duke, mall patron.

Regardless of a curfew, police plan to beef up security in the area.

"We are not going to tolerate disorderly, disruptive conduct that compromises the safety and security of our neighborhoods in Towson," said Armacost.

A 16-year-old girl was arrested on Saturday. She is being charged as a juvenile with disorderly conduct and assaulting an officer.

The officers hit with rocks did not need medical attention.

The curfew would apply to anyone under the age of 17.