2 teenagers arrested after trespassing on Century III Mall property
WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. (KDKA) - Two teenagers have been arrested after trespassing on Century III Mall property during its demolition.
WATCH: Alexandra Todd reports
In a post to Facebook, the West Mifflin Police Department said the individuals were arrested on Saturday for "entering the closed Century III Mall property while demolition crews were actively working on tearing down structures."
The department is reminding residents and outsiders to stay away from the property, which is marked with several 'No Trespassing' signs. All entrances have been boarded closed.
"Please do not risk your safety, or the safety of local police, fire, EMS, and construction crew members by ignoring warnings in regard to trespassing at this site," the Facebook post continued. "There are numerous dangers associated with this property, which is the very reason it is being torn down. As with all active demolition projects, structural instability will only continue to increase."
KDKA-TV's Jennifer Borrasso has confirmed that the two suspects are from Belle Vernon, Fayette County, and both will be charged with criminal trespass.
"We're not going to tolerate it. So, we are going to charge them to the maximum," according to West Mifflin Mayor Chris Kelly.
When Century III Mall opened in 1979, it was the third-largest mall in America. The nostalgia remains, however, and so does the intrigue for trespassers.
"It was a tourist attraction when it first opened up, it was huge," Mayor Kelly added.
"But now because of YouTube, because of social media, because of all this interest that kids have, they want to take part of it and post it to say that they were somewhere where you are not permitted to be, and so that's very stressful for the mayor, the borough manager, the citizenry because we just want this to come down," says West Mifflin lawyer Phil DiLucente.
Mayor Kelly says these people need to stop coming onto the property, and that it isn't fair to EMS workers to put them in such terrible conditions.
"It is so difficult to control stupidity. This place is a toxic dump that has a tremendous amount of toxic materials, black mold, [and] carcinogens. They are risking their lives, and the problem is, we have to risk our first responders' lives."
DiLucente says this has been a long, arduous process to get to this demolition and that this is an attractive nuisance.
"Make no mistake: This is what is called under the law an attractive nuisance. An attractive nuisance is something children or young adults might find interest in, and it's dangerous."
He says more security on the site is essential.
"We are going to call for more security at the mall during demolition."
West Mifflin says it has not approved a permit for the demolition of the entire mall, and that an asbestos survey needs to be completed first.
According to the demolition company, Neiswonger, there should be progress beginning Monday and Tuesday of bringing the parking structure down.
