I got arrested for wearing my Catholic school uniform in the mall after school, can they do this?

Question

Well one Thursday after school, me and my friends and other girls were talking and we realized, we had no homework or upcoming tests. My friend and three other girls were going to go home, change clothes, and eat at Buffalo Wild Wings at 6:00 and then head to the mall. I wanted to go, but I had to help tutor until 5:30. Then said they'd come by the school then and we'd all walk there together. So they came and I was the only one still in my school uniform. We ate and got to the mall at 7:15. We were walking around when my friend Libby saw two boys she knew. She was talking to them, but me and the other girls just waited behind her. During this, a cop came up to us. He told me to stand against the wall. I was handcuffed and led around the mall to the security office. I was then placed in an isolated room (with the cuffs still on). After about an hour, the officer said my friends paid a "releasing fee" and since this was a first time offense, nothing would be recorded.

I was led through the mall (still in handcuffs) and went outside. The officer then released me and said to never come back until I had decent clothes on (I thought my uniform was more than decent). My friends explained the $75 releasing fee (which I have to pay them back) and said I was arrested for a “small count of possible indecent exposure of the clothing, which can be a small form of prostitution.” I was shocked at this. I wanted to take further action, but I do not want my parents to find out. What’s wrong about coming to the mall in my Catholic School Uniform after school? My shirt was still tucked in, I had the uniform sweater on, my skirt was regulation length, so I don’t get what was wrong. I’m scared to go back and ask. What should I do? Is this right? My wrist still hurts from the handcuffs.

Answer 1

Certainly they cannot do that! Where in the land did they get the law that a student who wears Catholic school uniform in the mall should be arrested? That was obviously illegal. Those bad guys should be chopped into a thousand pieces and fed to the sharks. But it is problematic whether the sharks will them out of a sense of professional courtesy.

Go to the police darling and inform them about what happened. You SHOULD inform your parents too. They deserve to know this. Your parents will surely make some legal actions against those bad wolves. Those bad guys deserve to be placed behind bars.

Answer 2

This Is Illegal. Go To the Police ASAP. You Are A Victim. This Man Prays On Young Girls. There Is No Such Thing As A Releasing Fee. They Just Release You. Or They Would Have Called Your Parents. If They Thought It Was Indecent They Would Have Removed Your From The Mall.
Did This Man Make You Sign Any Forms Or Paper Work.
Thank God Your Friends Were There. Things Could Have Been Alot Worse This Man Is A Predator. Ive Heard About Cases Like This Before.
Your Parents May Be Mad But Theyll Be More Concerned About What This Man Did To You.

Go To The Police This Is Highly Illegal And This Man Needs To Be Arrested!

Answer 3

It seems like there may be an opening for you to file a lawsuit against the security at that mall, If the cop didn't tell you what you did wrong (if you did ask which i imagine you would have), likely in this case since you didn't even commit a simple crime; talk to your family members about this injustice because the cop may have been prejudice about you and/or may have falsely accused you of a crime; or maybe your were there after a curfew as some city's have laws limiting the amount of time you (one who is younger than 18) is allowed to stay in certain establishments, my guess is that the officer was committing a crime him/herself and the crime should have recorded, otherwise how would he/she have known if you had not committed other offenses (no offense lol) once again as i said earlier, i would talk to a teacher/parent/adult/other (you get the point!) there may be a chance for you to get more money back then originally spent, plus i believe that this "releasing fee" was illegal and the cop was some type of cheapscape racist or something as he never did tell you what you did wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Answer 4

Nope, and the fee is probably illegal. File charges at the police office. The security officer is NOT a police officer, just a rent-a-person who might or might not have a gun.

Bottom line there's illegaly restraining you (kidnapping), illegally charging a "fee" for a "criminal" offence, blackmailing (charging the fee and not sending you to the police), and the fact that there was no basis in the law for them to hold you. Unless you where actually "exposed" there's nothing illegal that happened on your part. Even if you where exposed they would have needed to call a cop, and then a court would have had to find you guility before you paid a fine to the STATE, and ONLY if you had been tried and found guility.

You're going to be a rich person with even a second rate lawyer. Get even a decent one, and you'll be set for life.

Answer 5

It's impossible to know what was really going on because none of us answering this question were there, nor can we read the security officer's mind.

I tend to agree with the person(s) who have gone out on a limb and accuse the security officer of anti-Catholic bigotry.

If there is nothing more to the story than you have detailed here, it would be well worth telling your parents. Let them be the ones to question - and indeed challenge - the mall security for their actions.

Answer 6

You should tell you parents right away. They can help you press charges against the mall security or the owners of the mall. This was a out and out violation of your rights.

I went to Catholic school and went shopping with my mom or with friends after school sometimes, and a lot of times you don't want or need to get changed.
Since when has wearing a uniform been a violation of anything???
I am really outraged this happened to you
If I were you or your parent I would sue the mall definitely.
Tell you parents and get your evidence that this happened and get a lawyer.

I answered this in good faith that it was real but after seeing a bunch of questions about Catholic school girls and handcuffs I think this is a fake.

Answer 7

Bet ever donut I ever ate that was not a police office. It was some mall wannabe rent a cop. No police officer would even think about pulling a stunt like that.
I hope you got names.
Was the jerk dumb enough to give your friends a receipt. Since he had access to the mall security office he was one of theirs. Your parents and the police need to go there. That jerk can be arrested for false imprisonment, among other things.
Nail him to the wall.
And to those who think it never happened> It may not have happened to this girl, but it has happened. I have personal experience of it happening twice. Once was as this asker described it, the other time was with a sexual assault

Answer 8

What mall was this? (Some malls have clothing and behavior regulations well-posted.)

What town and state was this in?

I would definitely tell your parents about this. Do you want them to find out from someone else who saw you walking around? Tell them; they would rather hear it from you that another person. And they might surprise you: I bet they will come to your defense and be angry at how the cop/security guy treated you. (Was this a real police officer or one of those security dudes?)

Answer 9

You were not arrested. Mall security cannot do that as police have that authority. None of your story makes sense. The mall being private property can set its own rules and the first amendment doesn't really apply there. What really doesn't make sense is the fine. I think your friends may just be yanking you for money or you made this all up.

Answer 10

Talk to your parents NOW. Then, with them and your friends, go back to the mall and speak to the head of security. If it was a police officer and not a security guard go to the police station. This sounds like extortion, false imprisonment and possibly kidnapping.