Man charged with vandalism after mall disturbance

Staff report

BOARDMAN

A 29-year-old Youngs-town man was arraigned Tuesday on multiple charges after a weekend disturbance at a Southern Park Mall department store that caused at least $13,000 in damage.

Michael F. Lewis is charged with vandalism, intimidation, obstructing official business and theft.

Employees at Macy’s told police they saw Lewis shoplifting about 3:45 p.m. Friday, and when Lewis left the store, an employee followed him into the mall concourse and identified himself to Lewis, according to reports.

Police said Lewis then began yelling and came back into Macy’s, knocking over mannequins, overturning coat racks and breaking glass fixtures. He also kicked glass display cases in the cosmetics section and verbally threatened security guards, records show.

When officers arrived, Lewis was under a “dog pile” of security guards, who restrained and tried to handcuff him to escort him out of the mall, reports stated.

Macy’s employees told police a day later that $13,261.98 worth of damage was caused to 355 miscellaneous clothing items, which cannot be put back on shelves because glass shards could be in them.

The store is working to get cost estimates to replace the damaged glass and that cost will be added to determine the total damage from the incident, police said.

Lewis is due back in court Tuesday.