Pepper spray used on Springfield crowd for Air Jordans

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Police in central Illinois have arrested one person and used pepper spray to subdue shoppers waiting to buy Nike’s new Air Jordan basketball shoes.

The Springfield State Journal-Register reports that about 250 shoppers were waiting early Friday morning to buy the newly released shoes at a mall in Illinois’ capital city.

Police say some of the shoppers were pushing at the mall doors. Officers were worried the doors would break and used pepper spray on some of the people waiting.

One shopper was arrested for allegedly pushing an officer but was eventually released.

Across the country, authorities reported scuffles and unrest at shopping malls selling the Air Jordans.

In Bloomington, there were long lines for the new retro Jordans, but there were no problems reported.