Riot Police Break Up Unruly Nike Shoe Crowd At Fla. Mall
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The release of new "galactic-themed" Nike sneakers caused a near riot in Orlando but all has remained calm in South Florida.
More than 100 law enforcement officers in riot gear broke up an out-of-control crowd waiting to buy the new Air "Foamposite One Galaxy" outside the Florida Mall Thursday night.
According to a report in the Orlando Sentinel, police broke up the unruly crowd gathering in a parking lot outside the mall. Witnesses said someone made a run toward a Foot Locker store even though the crowd was told to wait in the lot. The deputies formed a line and used shields to push back the crowd, witnesses told the Sentinel.
Police said no one was injured, but two were arrested for trespassing.
Following the incident, deputies on loudspeakers announced there would be no shoe release.
The glow-in-the-dark basketball shoes, tied to the NBA All-Star game this weekend in Orlando, cost $220. They are reportedly being sold online for much higher.
Here in South Florida, about half a dozen pairs were sold out without incident Friday morning from the Nike Store in the Dolphin Mall.
The galaxy themed collection features shoes named after LeBron James, it's called the LeBron 9. There are also shoes named after Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder and for Kobe Bryan of the Los Angeles Lakers.
The players are expected to wear their special edition shoes styled after NASA spacesuits and inspired by astronauts at this weekend's NBA All-Star game.
