CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. — There was a heavy police presence at the Walden Galleria on Saturday night, with vehicles lining a portion of the building's perimeter where many of the large chain restaurants are located.
2 On Your Side reached out to Cheektowaga Police for information but we have not heard back yet. A Channel 2 photographer was at the scene but was told to leave the property.
A mall security officer reached by phone said she couldn't provide any information at the time.
The mall's normal operating hours were not affected.
Pyramid Management Group, the owners of the Walden Galleria, released the following statement regarding the incident in the mall on Saturday:
The safety of our guests and tenants will always be a top priority at Walden Galleria. The type of isolated incident that recently took place was absolutely unacceptable. Such misbehavior will not be tolerated. It’s incredibly unfortunate when individuals or small groups disrupt the experience for the 99.9% of our visitors who behave wonderfully. While these incidents undermine the tireless efforts by our security team, community partners and local law enforcement agencies that make Walden Galleria a year-round family-friendly destination, they only strengthen our resolve to remain vigilant and committed to providing a safe environment for everyone. Make no mistake, we will be pursuing all avenues to hold accountable individuals who cannot behave appropriately.
Regarding masks and social distancing, in accordance with and under mandate from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and New York State, everyone who enters a Pyramid property is required to wear a mask and maintain social distancing. Guests who have a medical condition that prevents them from wearing a mask, those who cannot put on or remove a mask themselves and small children, are exempt from wearing a mask.
Our security team is actively reminding a small number of guests to wear a mask and handing out masks to anyone that does not have one. We ask that all guests comply with the mandate and maintain social distancing, as it truly is best for everyone. We have additional signage as guests enter our centers to remind everyone to wear a mask and maintain social distancing.
For any individuals that refuse to wear a mask and are not exempt, they will be informed that they are in violation of the State mandate and be directed to leave the property immediately.
