8 arrested following Christmas night brawl involving teens at Orange Park Mall

ORANGE PARK, Fla. — Eight arrests were made after fights broke out Christmas night near the Orange Park Mall.

The Clay County Sheriff's Office said hundreds of teens and young adults were hanging out at the movie theater at the Orange Park Mall Christmas night when multiple fights broke out. CCSO also said teens were jumping on cars.

Two of the people arrested were juveniles.

CCSO said the eight arrests were related to the fights, as well as drug possession and resisting arrest. According to police, one person was arrested after police said they found a sub-machine-type gun on one person involved in Friday night's incident.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and Orange Park Police Department assisted CCSO Friday night.

Deputies set up an area at a parking lot on Blanding Boulevard and Wells Road where parents could pick up their children.

The Orange Park Mall released a statement Saturday afternoon that said: "We maintain a zero tolerance policy for unlawful behavior as we strive to provide the best possible shopping experience. We thank the Clay County Sheriff's Office for their quick response."

CCSO said an investigation is ongoing.

Andrea Ussery shared the Action News Jax Facebook post of the story and wrote her experience of the incident in the post.  Ussery said she was at the Orange Park Mall movie theater to see a movie with her family Christmas night. She said minutes before the fights broke out her family was taking a picture outside the movie theater. Ussery said a friendly Orange Park police officer jumped in and photobombed their photo, and then was nice enough to take several other photos with her family. Ussery said moments later that same officer was breaking up multiple fights and claims the officer was assaulted by several teens. Ussery posted on Facebook, "It all happened so fast, right (before) my eyes (and) and literally brought me to tears."

WJAX