Westfield Sunrise Mall
MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. — A teenager drove to a crowded suburban mall on Thursday but neglected to park — instead smashing through the entrance and cruising past clothing stores before exiting the car to deliver a speech to onlookers, police said.
The 19-year-old man drove through the mall's main glass doors at around 7 p.m., continued past a JCPenney, passed the mall's central court, knocked over a kiosk and then made two left turns before exiting near a McDonald's, Nassau County police said.
After breaking through the second set of doors at Westfield Sunrise mall, the driver exited the car and started giving a rambling speech before being restrained by a passer-by until police got there, Officer Thomas Brussell said.
Shoppers said they had to run through a pet store to get out of the way.
"People were running into stores, you know, and screaming," Theresa Schuessler recalled.
No one was seriously hurt by the sedan, although one onlooker suffered minor cuts to the foot after stepping on some of the broken glass. The rampage caused about $60,000 worth of damage, police said.
Story - AP
Cops: Teen Was Angry at Ex, Drove Through Mall
MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. (AP) -- A teenager who smashed his car through the front of a Long Island mall, careening 500 yards past screaming shoppers before blasting through an exit, was apparently angry with an ex-girlfriend who worked there, police said Friday.
"It's a miracle that nobody was injured, said Sgt. Anthony Repalone, a spokesman for the Nassau County police. "You've got kids, women pushing strollers, elderly people walking around. ... It's amazing to me that nobody was injured.
Dwight Thomas, 19, of Amityville, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Friday in First District Court in Hempstead on felony charges of criminal mischief and reckless endangerment.
He is being held on $750,000 bond, or $350,000 cash.He is is due back in court on June 12.
He was also charged with third-degree arson after allegedly trying to set a fire at the Broadway Mall in Hicksville on Tuesday.
Repalone said that shortly before 7 p.m. Thursday, Thomas drove through the main glass doors of the Westfield Sunrise Mall in Massapequa. He continued past a JCPenney, passed the mall's central court, knocked over a kiosk and then made two left turns before exiting near a McDonald's.
Witnesses told police he was going fast, but Repalone said it was difficult to determine his rate of speed.
Once outside, Thomas got out of the car and was making rambling remarks before an off-duty police officer and mall security restrained him.
"People were running into stores, you know, and screaming,'' said witness Theresa Schuessler.
The rampage caused about $60,000 worth of damage, Repalone said. One onlooker suffered minor cuts after stepping on broken glass.
It all started, Repalone said, because Thomas was upset with a girlfriend who wanted to end their relationship. The woman, who was not identified, apparently worked at the mall.
"He was going in and talk to her. However, his method of doing so obviously was criminal in nature,'' Repalone said.
Earlier this week, police said Thomas went to a mall in Hicksville and set fire to an SUV he suspected was owned by a man dating his ex-girlfriend. It turned out that the vehicle was owned by someone who has no connection to case.
The mall, which closed early on Thursday night, was open for business on Friday. A spokeswoman for the mall did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Insert photo of Thomas courtesy of Mona Rivera; Mall pictures courtesy of Al Jones