11 accused in mall pepper spray incident in court today
Ridgeland police want to know why suspects singled out Northpark
By Kelli Esters
kesters@clarionledger.com

Ridgeland police are still trying to determine why 11 males allegedly shot pepper spray into the air at Northpark mall Monday night, causing several employees and customers to become ill.
"Why they picked Northpark we don't know," Lt. John Neal said.
Police are expecting to question the males, who are being held at the Madison County Detention Center, more today when they go to municipal court for initial appearances, Neal said. Bond has not been set.
At 6:20 p.m. Monday, police responded to the mall, 1200 E. County Line Road, to reports that possibly pepper spray or mace had been sprayed in the food court, police said. When police arrived they saw several people walking outside from the food court coughing and wheezing.
When officers went into the mall, they were "overcome by the fumes" as well, Neal said.
Several employees and customers of the mall were treated at the scene after experiencing coughing and swollen, watery eyes, Neal said. A 6-month-old baby was taken to Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson and released a couple of hours later, Neal said.
Police confiscated two cans of the irritant, but several of the suspects were spraying it, Neal said.
"We think they passed the cans around," Neal said. "They were observed blatantly spraying, like it was air freshener. They began laughing as people started gasping for air."
The 6-month-old baby in the food court was targeted, Neal said. One of the males held the can down by his side as he walked passed the baby. They began laughing when the baby started to have trouble breathing, Neal said.
"They were being real loud and boisterous in their actions and demeanor," Neal said.
After leaving the food court the males split up into groups of five and six and began randomly spraying around the mall, including the center court on the second floor. Some were arrested in front of the Belk department store and others in different locations in the mall.
The canisters were marked for law enforcement use only, Neal said. During questioning today, police hope to learn where they got the irritant.
Two of the suspects were arrested at Northpark about a year ago, Neal said.
"We are not sure if Monday's incident had anything to do with retaliation," Neal said.
Corey Smith and Elliot Smith - no relation - were arrested on an indecent exposure charge, Neal said. Corey Smith was booked last year as Torey Smith.
Patrol Sgt. Tony Willridge said he responded to the incident in October 2005. He said mall security called police after the men, who were 17 years old at the time, were seen wearing "really, really short mini skirts" that left them exposed when they walked and sat down.
The disposition of their 2005 case was not available.
Briejana Tate works at McAlister's Select in the food court. She was behind the counter when she saw about 10 males walk in the mall together. The next thing she knew everybody was coughing, including her. "I saw them spraying. I thought they were spraying perfume," she said. "I don't see how they weren't coughing."
She said all the employees in the deli and other restaurants left through the back doors of the businessesto get fresh air. "Everybody was in the back, because we couldn't take it," she said.
She said everybody came back in about 20 minutes later when things were back to normal.
Audrie Thompson, general manager of Northpark, said the incident is not believed to have affected mall attendance. Mall traffic increases every day during the holiday season, including on Tuesday, she said.
Thompson would not discuss specifics about Monday night's incident, citing the ongoing investigation.
"Northpark mall is extremely safe," Thompson said. "We have a strong working relationship with city of Ridgeland and the police department. I'm confident that Monday night's incident was isolated."
Additional charges of child abuse may come, Neal said.