Swatch store at Troy mall cancels product release event after large crowd gathers

The Swatch store at the Somerset Collection mall in Troy, Michigan, has canceled a product release event after an estimated crowd of hundreds of people gathered for it early Saturday, according to police.

Officers responded to the large crowd at the mall on West Big Beaver Road around 4:30 a.m. Police said the store decided to cancel its Bioceramic Royal Pop Collection launch event and remain closed for the rest of Saturday "due to the size of the crowd and related safety concerns."

After the decision was made, security personnel at the mall advised people to leave the property, officials said. Two citations for trespassing were given to people who refused to comply, according to police. 

A personal shopper told CBS News Detroit that some consumers camped out for a special pocket watch. 

"Everyone was kind of crowded up by the door," Tommy, who was in the crowd, said. "Some people were trying to muscle their way through. Me and the people I was standing by, we were kind of playing defense, standing there, making sure nobody got through. There was a couple agruments. Nothing too crazy though."

Tommy added that, at one point, he heard police crackling their Tasers.

"Yeah, they were telling people that they were going ot kick you off the premises and trespass you. They were possibly going to arrest people. When people started rushing the door, the police started doing their Tasers, make a little noise with their Taser(s) to get people to go back."

Swatch, known mainly for selling watches, said on social media that it had to close at least 17 of its stores on Saturday after it saw "extraordinarily high demand." 

The company said the collection, which is a collaboration with the watch manufacturer Audemars Piguet, is not a limited edition.