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P4 Tuesday, Nov 26, 2013
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Shock over mass brawl
Lack of police response mystifies witnesses BY MYLES HUME
MYLES.H@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ
A massive hour-long street brawl in the centre of Ashburton - involving more than 30 people - has left witnesses and a security firm horrified. Bystanders have also raised concern over the police response, saying they never showed despite calls to emergency services and that one police car reportedly drove past the scene. Talbot Security managing director Dean Talbot said
he and three staff members were confronted with a bloody brawl involving more than 30 people in the Ashburton McDonald’s carpark (pictured above) about 2.40am Sunday. The alcohol-fuelled fight, mainly between young men aged 15-30, allegedly lasted more than an hour with some of Mr Talbot’s staff assaulted while attempting to defuse the situation. “The event started about 2.40am with about 10-15 people fighting and then that
crowd has escalated to 25-30 and then it’s continued on and off until about 4am,” Mr Talbot said. “Originally two of our guards tried to break it up but the numbers overwhelmed them and both were knocked to the ground by the mob. “Then a third and fourth came to assist and we have basically moved out after numerous attacks while we were helping them on the ground.” Fighting continued outside the carpark area until about
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4am and trespass notices were handed down to many involved. Mr Talbot said it was procedure to call Ashburton police during such incidents, so up to six calls were made but police never showed. “Every single event, whether it’s one-on-one or one-on-seven, we’re told to call police, and in my personal view that was a serious event that could have ended in the loss of a life,” Mr Talbot said. An Ashburton father, who the Guardian agreed to call
John, was picking up his teenage daughter from McDonald’s about 3am, but she was stuck inside afraid she would be caught up in the brawl. He said he was disappointed police did not show, and saw a flashing police car drive past the scene on West Street at the time. Senior Sergeant Grant Russell, of Ashburton, said limited staff were rostered at that hour, but he would “be looking into the events that took place” relating to Sunday morning.
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