Fight between 2 women leads to 8 arrests at mall

Eight people were arrested at the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance over the weekend after a crowd of 300 to 400 people gathered outside a movie theater to watch a fight between two women.

When police arrived to break up the brawl at about 9:15 p.m. Saturday, friends of the combatants began fighting with officers, Torrance police Sgt. Bernard Anderson said.

The vast majority of the onlookers, who had come out of the theaters to watch the fight, did not participate in the brawl, Anderson said.

Because of the size of the crowd, all available Torrance units were called, bringing 15 to 20 more officers. They then called for help from officers in Hawthorne, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Gardena, El Camino College and El Segundo.

Six adults and two juveniles were arrested and booked on charges of assault on a police officer and resisting arrest.

Two Torrance officers were injured, Anderson said. One was hit in the face, and the other hurt his knee.

After the brawl was broken up, police ushered the crowd into the parking lot.

The fight between the two women began as an argument over clothes, Anderson said. He did not have specifics.

Among those arrested were Courtney Gillian, 18, of Los Angeles and Alexis Ballard, 19, of Woodland Hills.

Also arrested were Deandre Long, 20, Timothy Lamb, 19, and Garrett Sloan, 18, all of Paramount. George Williams, 19, of Bellflower, was also arrested. All four were friends with the fighters, Anderson said.

Long could face felony charges for allegedly punching an officer in the face.

All of those arrested have since been released on bail or on their own recognizance, authorities said.

Investigators do not think they are gang members.

In addition to mall security officers, Torrance police are assigned permanent duty at Del Amo.

“We’re very pleased with the security situation there,” Anderson said. “We believe this was an isolated instance relating to folks who either had an issue with each other or decided to get in a fight there.”

--

jeff.gottlieb@latimes.com