Wild footage shows a Long Island cop pepper-spraying a rowdy mob swarming a mall in a panic over a special-edition Swatch watch release that’s caused chaos around the globe.
The Nassau County Police Department was called to make arrests after the unruly mob swarmed the Roosevelt Field Mall in East Garden City, Long Island, cops said.
The special release of the “Royal Pop”, a collaboration between Swatch and Audemars Piguet. Stephen Yang for NY PostCops said hundreds of people showed up, causing a dangerous situation.
The rowdiness erupted after several people tried pushing past officers and refused lawful orders, police said.
Viral video of the incident posted on X shows a lone officer getting pummeled by a crowd of would-buyers going psycho for Swatch in a frenzy the special edition “Royal Pop” watch – a collaborative pocket watch created by Audemars Piguet and Swatch that comes with a price tag of more than $400.
The footage shows the cop being toppled over by the stampede, before he takes out a can of pepper spray and unloads it into the crowd.
The timepiece fanatics quickly spread out, with a few rubbing their eyes and covering their faces while stepping back from the officer, according to the clips.
A crowd of people waiting outside of the Times Square Swatch store for a chance to buy the pocket watch. Stephen Yang for NY Post
People camping outside of the Times Square location ahead of the release on May 16, 2026. Stephen Yang for NY PostFootage of another angle of the incident shows a 100-person mob surrounding the officer – and the cop spraying the crowd for his life.
“That’s why I told y’all to move. I told y’all to move. Look at the damn Mace,” one onlooker said.
When the mayhem ended, four people were arrested, including one on a second-degree assault charge, police said.
The Nassau PD declined to comment on the video.
The Roosevelt Field Mall location was just one of nineteen stores that Swatch said would be closed on Sunday, citing “public safety considerations.”
