Original Article Chandler pursues the worst criminals: Teen moviegoers Laurie Roberts Republic columnist Aug. 27, 2005 12:00 AM I was on vacation earlier this month when the Great Breast-Feeding Scandal broke loose in Chandler. I never got the chance to compliment the ever-vigilant city fathers (clearly not mothers) for their aggressiveness in stamping out that most perilous threat to the public's health and welfare: the notorious nursing mommy. It all started in June when a lifeguard told 29-year-old Amy Milliron not to breast-feed her 2-month-old beside the pool at the West Chandler Aquatics Center. When Milliron objected, the brain trust that runs Chandler decided that the city needed a breast-feeding policy. To wit: Any nursing mother who refuses to cover up or leave a public area when asked will face criminal trespassing charges. Faced with an onslaught of complaints - and, I suspect, a few observers who were laughing their heads off - the City Council two weeks ago scrapped the city's directive to throw new mommies in jail. Instead, Chandler's leaders resorted to every politico's favorite fallback: the study committee. One can only hope they study quickly so they can get on with eliminating this scourge from city swimming pools. Meanwhile, who would have thought that Chandler could so quickly outdo itself? Having dealt with new mommies and their hungry infants, the city is now taking aim at the criminals who no longer wear diapers, that most dreaded of species known as the teenager. Every Friday, this dangerous breed emerges from their schoolbooks and their computer screens to assemble in groups of twos and threes and fours. I believe they call it movie night, an activity, apparently, fraught with all manner of lawlessness, at least at Chandler Fashion Center. It seems the mall, which is only too happy to sell these kids $85 jeans during the day and $8 movie tickets in the evening, is not so happy to have them there once there is no more money to be made. Which is how 15-year-old Jenna Prescott came to be an outlaw. Jenna, a sophomore at Marcos de Niza High School, went with friends to see the Dukes of Hazzard last weekend at the Harkins Theatre at the mall. They were able to buy tickets to the 9:30 p.m. showing, making Dan Harkins an accessory to her crime. But I digress. Jenna's dad, John, told me he was waiting in the parking lot to pick up the girls when the movie let out at 11:15 p.m. He was circling the lot when he got a tearful call from his daughter. She'd been arrested. Chandler police were holding her in a vacant restaurant inside the mall. Jenna's crime: curfew violation. Police began their sting three weeks ago after the mall reported trouble with loitering teens. Specifically, vandalism, fights and suspected gang activity. Instead of arresting the troublemakers, however, police decided to round up, well, everybody. Not counting last night, police have corralled 130 movie-going teenagers for violating the city's curfew, which is 10 p.m. for 15 year olds. Prescott said his daughter was nabbed as she exited the theater. It didn't matter that she wasn't causing trouble. It didn't matter that the only gangs she belongs to are the junior varsity volleyball and softball teams. It didn't matter that she was on her way to her waiting father's car. Now she's got a criminal citation and a Sept. 20 date with a judge. Meanwhile, with yet another crime wave nipped in the bud, we can all breathe a sigh of relief as we wait for the city to crack down on the next public menace. But do you think the cops will be able to outrun those grannies on their scooters? Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-8635.