Jim,

This is of course local news here.

Someone in the thread speculated that this was a citizens arrest, it was not. Mall trespassing arrests are not uncommon. The usual scenario is that a bunch of kids are hanging around (sometimes harrassing people, sometimes not) Security tells them to leave, they don't it becomes trespassing. Trespass is not a crime in NY it is a violation which we speak of as being the equivalent of a speeding ticket. (There are Criminal Trespass charges as well but they refer to specific types of property and specific instances).

This is of course not a First Amendment issue as the Mall is private property. While I think the mall is making a stupid decision in this case, I fully support the Mall's right to restrict access to their private property. Of course if I was a leaseholder in the Mall I would consider taking action based on the Mall's driving customers.

As a complete aside -- at last year's convention Jim, I introduced you to my friend David who is both a Club member and an Assistant District Attorney for Albany County who previously was assigned to the Guilderland Court.