11 arrests after Alexandra brawl, further arrests expected

Police expect to make further arrests following a large brawl in the main street of Alexandra last night.

Police and the Fire Service were called to the brawl which spilled over from a forecourt at a service station in the town's main street, Centennial Ave, about 7.45pm yesterday.

Senior Constable Ian Kerrisk said police estimated between 20 and 30 people were fighting when they arrived, although he did not discount reports 50 people could have been involved.

"They'd spilled out of the (service station) forecourt and right across Centennial Ave," he said today.

"There were a number of bottles thrown before we got there (and) when we were there. We have unconfirmed reports that people were brandishing bottles and possibly using them."

Investigators were still trying to determine what caused the brawl, Mr Kerrisk said.

Unconfirmed reports were that the brawl involved people from a group of 12 cars from the lower South Island who were on a trip together.

"They've arrived in Alexandra and have then come across a group of local Alexandra people at a service station.

"What we believe has happened, there's been an altercation over a wallet and things have just got ugly from there," he said.

It was not thought to be part of an ongoing problem but police were looking into that possibility.

Earlier police had been called to a report of disorder in another street about 5.30pm. That involved some of the Alexandra people but the other group was not believed to have been involved.

"It's certainly not the usual behaviour we have in Alexandra ... Alex is renowned for being a good town," Mr Kerrisk said.

"Yesterday, it was full of families, and unfortunately a lot of those families got caught up in what happened, and probably the biggest thing for us is the fact that in the middle of this brawl that was taking place there were women and children innocently caught up with nowhere to go. That's probably what upsets and disgusts us the most."

People were trying to drive through town in the middle of the brawl.

Some of those involved in the brawl received minor injuries but police were not aware of anyone being seriously hurt.

Eleven people were arrested last night, four charged with breach of the peace and seven with disorderly behaviour likely to cause violence. They were to appear in Alexandra District Court on January 24.

Those arrested had all been drinking, were males aged 18 to 24, and were from Alexandra, Balclutha and Invercargill.

"We are expecting to arrest more people, and once we've completed our inquiries and ascertained exactly what occurred we will obviously review the charges," Mr Kerrisk said.

Police needed to work out exactly what happened and identify other people involved.

"The big thing we need is witnesses. There were a large number of families present, a large number of people coming up to us and saying they were a witness to what occurred. Given the situation we had we couldn't talk to them at the time and get their details.

"We were too busy trying to calm things down. We need those people (witnesses) to come forward."

Caltex Alexandra owner-operator Arnold Hancock said the brawl appeared to have followed an altercation earlier in the day at the Wanaka rodeo.

"It sort of brewed up later in the evening, and about 60 to 80 people assembled at the service station," he told National Radio.

There had been "a bit of yelling and screaming, a few fists were thrown, a couple of bottles broken, a windscreen, and general mayhem basically".

Service station staff had locked the doors and dialled 111.

"The police were there within minutes but they were totally understaffed. There was only two constables available and they approached the local fire brigade who then came and gave them assistance," Mr Hancock said.

Little damage had been done to the service station.

Alexandra residents were well behaved, he said.

"There's just the odd element that sneaks into town and creates a bit of a disturbance."

- NZPA