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Two customers lined up outside the Apple Store in Pasadena were arrested after they got into a fight while waiting to purchase the new iPhone.
Police arrested George Westbrook, 23, of Compton and Lamar Mitchell, 43, of Pasadena for fighting in line outside of the store, Pasadena Police Lt. Jason Clawson said, according to the L.A. Times. The pair were among the hundreds lined up at the shop to be among the first to purchase the iPhone 5C and 5S, which were released at 8 a.m. Friday.
The Apple Store hired two Pasadena Police officers to provide security for the line, which included several homeless people hired by customers to hold their spots for them.
A second fight broke out around 9 a.m. involving a shopper and one such place-holder in the line, however no arrests were made. The person hired to stand in line was reportedly upset he was not being paid enough.
Police estimate at least 200 people were in line at the Pasadena store ahead of its opening.
The snazzy updated iPhones were announced late in August, and now come in all sorts of colors, including gold.
Fight brks out in Pas as man hires dzns from skid row to stand in line for iphone, we have video 11am @ABC7 pic.twitter.com/yvbI4RY0Wr
— Jovana Lara (@abc7jovana) September 20, 2013
Arrest over #iPhone fight @Apple store in Pasadena. That's our @friedmanphoto, center, getting the shot pic.twitter.com/9B0GRViKQZ via @ABC7
— L.A. Times Photos (@latimesphotos) September 20, 2013
We can see the Pasadena Apple Store now!! #iPhone5S #iPhone5C #iPhone pic.twitter.com/MZi88M2gPy
— Melanie (@kiasuchick) September 20, 2013
