EDISON, N.J. (Diya TV) — Edison Mayor Sam Joshi is calling for sweeping security changes at Menlo Park Mall following a massive teenage disturbance sparked by a viral TikTok video. The chaos unfolded Saturday night, May 17, as more than 300 teenagers—none reportedly from Edison—gathered at the popular shopping destination, resulting in a brawl that required a multi-agency police response and led to several arrests.
According to Central New Jersey News, the crowd initially formed around 8 p.m. after a single TikTok post promoted a meetup at the mall. Edison Police responded quickly to reports of a growing crowd and a fight breaking out inside the mall.
“At approximately 8 PM, the Edison Police Dept was notified that over 300 youth were gathered at Menlo Park Mall and a brawl ensued,” Joshi posted on Instagram. “At least four have been arrested. No weapons were confirmed at the incident, and no injuries to juveniles at this time.”
Ultimately, police arrested seven juveniles. One faces charges for assaulting a police officer, while the others were cited for disorderly conduct and failure to disperse. Edison Police Chief Tom Bryan told Central New Jersey News the situation took approximately 80 minutes to de-escalate. One officer sustained minor injuries, but no property damage was reported.
Cellphone videos circulating on social media show chaotic scenes of teens sprinting through the food court, shouting, and clashing with law enforcement. The viral nature of the incident has prompted police to investigate the original TikTok post, which authorities say may have been designed to generate online content. No charges have been filed against the social media user at this time, but Joshi emphasized that “everything is on the table.”
In the aftermath, Mayor Joshi is demanding immediate action from Simon Property Group, the Indianapolis-based owner of Menlo Park Mall. He’s calling for the installation of license plate readers, enhanced video surveillance, and an increase in on-site security personnel.
“Changes need to be made within Menlo Park Mall and Simon Properties, and we will continue to work with them until that happens,” Joshi said in a statement to Central New Jersey News.
The mayor is also considering pushing for a youth curfew at the mall, similar to those enforced at other shopping centers in the region. He cited parental responsibility as another area of concern, questioning why so many teenagers were able to travel long distances—up to 45 minutes in some cases—to Edison without supervision.
“What are the parents doing? Aren’t the parents aware that they’re traveling 40-45 minutes to cause a disturbance within Edison?” Joshi asked during the interview.
While a police substation located at Menlo Park Mall has reportedly helped reduce response times, Joshi made it clear that primary responsibility for mall security lies with Simon Property Group.
“This behavior will not be tolerated in Edison Township,” the mayor said. “We will ensure that Edison remains a safe community for all residents and visitors alike.”
Officials are continuing to assess security protocols and explore policy changes that would prevent future incidents. Meanwhile, the community is left grappling with the influence of viral social media trends and the role they play in drawing large, potentially disruptive crowds.
