Mall: 'Security guard' in escalator sledding video was part of the prank

Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Officials at an Ohio mall said a viral video showing a teen sledding down an escalator was staged by pranksters -- and a supposed security guard was in on it.

Officials with the Dayton Mall said the video, posted to Instagram Nov. 29 before going viral on Twitter, did not depict an actual confrontation between the teen and a security guard.

The video shows a teenager sitting on a sled at the top of a mall escalator and being confronted by an apparent security guard who warns the boy that the police will be called if he goes ahead with his stunt.

The teen sleds down the escalator, and the man gives chase.

Mall officials said the man in the video was not a real security guard, but rather was part of the teen's staged prank team.

They said the group of pranksters were confronted by real security guards in the mall parking lot and they were escorted away from the property, but police were not called.