Sioux Falls police arrested two people when a crowd turned violent Sunday night at the Empire Mall.
Chief Matt Burns said Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies made the arrests. He said most officers focused on protecting property.
“When you have a mobile field-force operation, it is imperative that they stay very, very disciplined to the task which they’re applied,” Burns said. “And that was to protect the integrity of that building. But for their actions there and this firm line that they held, we would’ve had that group breach the Empire Mall, and run riot within that structure, with close to 140 stores.”
Burns said he expects more arrests. Police are reviewing video from bystanders and surveillance cameras to identify people.
The violence at the mall came after a larger, peaceful protest in downtown Sioux Falls. People at the mall broke windows and stole items from several businesses.
Sioux Falls is one of dozens of cities across the country with protests and violence after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Floyd died after a police officer used a knee to pin Floyd’s neck to the ground.