Their arrests, along with the physical and verbal abuse family members say they endured, were punishment for both questioning the arrest of one of their sons and for leveling racism charges on the deputies, they contend.

That isn't so, deputies say. The family attempted to stop deputies from arresting a relative, which led to the situation spiraling out of control.

The fracas began around 7 p.m. Thursday when deputies arrested Frantz Leger, the Legers' 20-year-old son. He had returned to the mall where he was banned for violating its "Rules of Common Courtesy" on or around August. The Florida State University sophomore business major was verboten for wearing his pants too low.

'I know I'm not a criminal just because my pants are too low below your expectations,' Frantz Leger said from his Wiltshire Village home Saturday.

Unknowingly or not, though, his return to the mall was a violation of that trespass warning, deputies later charged.

"Unknowingly or not"? What does that mean? Do you feel like a fact has been left out of this story?

'The mall doesn't put up with that tomfoolery bullcrap,' Hart said. 'His pants were down below his butt. No one goes to the mall and wants to see the crack of someone's butt.'

First of all, I actually do go to the mall hoping to see the crack of someone's butt. So officer, your fantastic argument falls apart right there. Maybe they oughtta replace those comedy classes with courses in logic.

Second of all...who the HELL uses words like "tomfoolery" anymore? I honestly worry about politicians and authorities who use words like "gee whillikers" and "tomfoolery" and "hijinks" and "whippersnapper." I really think these people should back quietly away from any positions of enforcing morality or mores or anything that rests on an understanding of current reality in our culture and world. Because word usage from the 30s, 40s, and 50s make me feel like this cat hangs out talking to the Soda Jerk over at Pop's with an eye on the sun setting over the town's Welcome sign. The lingo just screams "Release me! I'm trapped in an old morality!"

What happened next differs greatly between deputies' and family members' versions.

Suffice it to say, the night ended with six family members spending time in jail:

• The father, Joseph F. Leger, was charged with trespassing, resisting an officer with violence, assault with intent to commit a felony and assault on a law enforcement officer.

• The mother, Marthe J. Leger, was charged with trespassing, disorderly conduct, resisting an officer with violence and two counts of battery on an officer.

• Their daughter, Samantha, 18, a Florida A&M University student, was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting an officer without violence, trespassing and simple assault on an officer.

• Frantz Leger's cousin, Alain Oidge, 19, was charged with trespassing, resisting and officer without violence and disorderly conduct.

• Another cousin, a 16-year-old juvenile faced a battery charge.
For most of them, it was their first time behind bars in Florida. Marthe Leger was arrested in 1994 on larceny and robbery charges; and Alain Oidge was arrested in October on charges of fraud, driving while his license was suspended and resisting an officer without violence.

The Legers say their Haitian heritage and treatment at the mall are not coincidental.

—Baggy jeans at mall drag family to jail

Tell it to Sweeney, ya vipers! Of course these hooligans up to their shenanigans would say that! Applesauce, I reply. Any Joe Zilch would thank that copper for giving those ne'erdowells the Bum's Rush.