BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) -
Teenagers in Baton Rouge could see a change
in curfew time if the new mayor pro tem gets his way. The mall brawl from
the Saturday night has fueled talk of this.
Blue lights and crime scene tape replacing shoppers
and diners, it's something that's happened at least three times at the Mall of
Louisiana since 2012. It's why EBR Metro Council Mayor Pro-Tem Chandler
Loupe is once again reviving the curfew conversation. As of now, the
parish and Capital City do have a curfew in place.
"11 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and
1 a.m. to 5 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, and that's for 16 years old and under,"
said BRPD Cpl. Tommy Stubbs.
Loupe wants to move it up to midnight on the
weekends and have the curfew apply to anyone 17 and under. The weekday
11 p.m. would remain untouched. Of course there are exceptions: adult
supervision, working or emergencies.
"When kids stay out late at night, bad
things happen or tend to happen, and a lot of our violent crime happens at
night," said Stubbs.
Even though the proposed curfew would not
have applied Saturday at the mall, Loupe said he wants to start a
discussion. Two years ago in February, shots rang out across the street
from Perkins Rowe, and the private property was having problems with large
crowds gathering. In response, Loupe said the general manager instated a
curfew specifically for Perkins Rowe.
"17 and under past 8 p.m. It's been
over a year, and I can't recall any large gatherings where we had to do what we
did," said Loupe.
He wants the Mall of Louisiana to follow in
their footsteps. Last year in January, two bystanders were shot by the
Boulevard at the Mall of Louisiana. Just one month later, deputies were back
after chaos erupted over a handful of some much-anticipated Nike shoes, and now this
past Saturday's event.
"We can't let that type of environment
continue to exist," said Loupe.
The mall's general manager refused to go on
camera but told 9News in a statement they do have a public safety program in
place, review it often and make necessary changes if needed. That's what
parents want now.
"Get some strict rules going and cut
some of that stuff down," said Wesley Smith, who was at the mall Saturday.
9News asked mall officials if there would be
any changes because of Saturday's huge fight or even a curfew. No one
responded to our questions.
Loupe
said he plans to wait some time before introducing the curfew hoping to get
public input.
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