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        Police: Rockville Centre man arrested for assaulting officers at mall

        Authorities say police responded to the Roosevelt Field Mall around 6:30 p.m. because of a fight that broke out in the food court.

        Logan Crawford

        Dec 29, 2024, 3:12 AM

        Updated 6 hr ago

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        A Rockville Centre man accused of attacking officers at a mall Friday in East Garden City is facing multiple charges, according to police.
        Authorities say police responded to the Roosevelt Field Mall around 6:30 p.m. because of a fight that broke out in the food court.
        Video posted to Instagram and shared with News 12 shows people running for cover as a fight breaks out between two men.
        The person who posted it says he took the video at the Roosevelt Field shopping mall Friday at 6:20 p.m.
        The video shows the two wrestling, several guns sliding across the floor, and people running away.
        "I think that in recent years we've been trying to avoid going to the mall at night just from hearing danger stories like similar to this one,” said Caroline Fay, of Rockville Centre.
        On the same night, police say they arrested 22-year-old Christopher Santana, of Rockville Centre, after he got into a fight in the food court of Roosevelt Field.
        According to police, Santana walked out of the mall and then came back trying to bring bricks inside. Police say as they were arresting him, he started biting and spitting at the officers. News 12 was told one officer was hurt and was treated at the hospital.
        "Obviously it's scary. I do believe they have good security there,” said Christina Diamond, of Long Beach.
        Police say Santana is charged with possession of a criminal weapon, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
        "We go to the mall all the time. I'm there at night by myself sometimes even. I would say that's pretty alarming to me,” said Megan Fay, of Rockville Centre.
        Police have not said if the Instagram video is the same incident as the one involving the bricks.
        They say they are aware of the video and it is part of an ongoing investigation.
        News 12 reached out to the mall for comment but was referred to police.