YouTuber, 2 others turn themselves in on charges of trespassing in abandoned Century III Mall
WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. (KDKA) -- A YouTuber and two other men from Ohio turned themselves in on trespassing charges after police said they broke into the abandoned Century III Mall.
Police said 23-year-old Brody Lones of New Lexington, Ohio, and his two friends, 27-year-old Christopher Cross and 22-year-old Drake Pierce, drove to Century III Mall in late May, broke in through a door that led into the Old Navy store and started shooting video.
All three trespassing suspects were booked Wednesday, with the district magistrate warning them to stay away from the potentially dangerous and derelict old mall.
At one point, police said Brody Lones shot a video of Christopher Cross shooting mall decorations with a bow and arrow. Then Lones allegedly videotaped Drake Pierce throwing objects from the upper floor to the lower floors.
The trio ran into a man and a woman who police said also entered the mall illegally. On June 4, police said Lones posted the video on his YouTube video channel Exploring with Brody. Someone saw the video and reported it to West Mifflin police.
During the investigation, detectives identified a man from Clairton the trio encountered. Detectives got a warrant and the suspect turned himself in.
Earlier this month, a teenager fell through the roof of the mall while filming a TikTok and was hospitalized. The chief said since then, he's been charged with trespassing. Police also arrested three vandals in May and responded to an arson in April.
Last week, West Mifflin leaders wrapped up a meeting without making a decision on whether to condemn the mall.
Officials said a task force has been formed to crack down on trespassers.
"We've gone the route where we've put the warnings out there, we've asked people not to go in that mall, we've patrolled the mall, but again, it's time to start making some arrests," said West Mifflin Police Chief Gregory McCulloch.
Investigators said they're keeping a close eye on YouTube and other social media postings.
"We put a little group together. Any video that pops up, anything like that, we're going to investigate that fully and we're going to make the appropriate arrest every time," McCulloch said.
All three men face felony criminal trespass and a summary count of defiant trespass.
"Nothing good can come out of going into that mall," McCulloch said.
The three men have been released on their own recognizance and face a preliminary hearing on July 20.