PROVIDENCE — The Providence police and mall security broke up a large disturbance at Providence Place on Friday night that involved about 40 to 50 youths from rival street gangs.

Officers assigned to the Providence Police Gang Unit arrested 11 juveniles — 10 from Providence and 1 from Fall River — on a variety of charges including disorderly conduct/assembling to cause a fight, possession of spray paint and assault.

The police said about eight of the arrested youths admitted that they were members of the Laos Pride Junior street gang, a younger offshoot of Laos Pride, the Smith Hill-based gang. With them, the police said, were several members of the Asian Boyz, a Cranston-based gang.

The police suspect Laos Pride and the Asian Boyz were battling with gang members from the Original Bloods. The police say that the Original Bloods, or OB, are strong in the Fall Riverarea, but they also have gang members in Providence.

Laos Pride has been under the watchful eye of law enforcement since it first became a gang in the mid-90s. In recent weeks, members of Laos Pride and the Asian Boyz have been sentenced to lengthy federal prison terms after they pleaded guilty to felony conspiracy and gun drug charges. Two other Laos Pride gang members are awaiting sentencing or trial from the same conspiracy to burst into the home of a fictitious drug dealer and rob him at gunpoint.

The misdemeanor assault charge yesterday was lodged against a 15-year-old boy who is accused of striking Justin Dellefemine, a mall security guard, after the boy was ordered to leave the mall. The youth ran off with a group of other Asian teenagers across Francis Street toward Waterplace Park. The police joined the chase and tackled the teenager.

A police report says the youth suffered minor scrapes to his hands and face. Rhode Island State Trooper Peter Chabot, who is assigned to the Providence Police Gang Unit, suffered a hand injury that required five stitches at the Rhode Island Hospital emergency room.

The disturbance broke out about 9 p.m. and involved boys and girls. Capt. Keith Tucker, head of Providence police Youth Services, said that mall security grew concerned when they noticed large groups of Asian youths in the mall. They contacted Detective Sgt. Michael P. Wheeler, head of the Providence Police Gang Unit, and several gang officers quickly responded to the scene.

The police escorted several youths from the food court area on the third floor. As they were leaving the building, the police said, a large disturbance broke out at the bottom of the front stairwell. Several boys were fighting, while a large group wearing blue shirts ran from the building and crossed Francis Street.

The 11 juveniles, who were all 14 and 15 years old, were arrested and brought to Providence police headquarters. They were all charged with disorderly conduct, while two others had additional criminal charges brought against them — simple assault and possession of spray paint. They were all released to the custody of their parents.

bmalinow@projo.com