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06-24-2004, 03:26 PM
Military personnel hospitalized after brawl
By IAN FAIRCLOUGH / Valley Bureau
KENTVILLE - Police are looking for suspects after a bloody brawl in the downtown early Wednesday morning.
The fracas started inside the Edge Lounge and moved out into the street at about 12:30 a.m., when Kentville police received several 911 calls.
When they arrived, they found three men bloodied and lying in the street. One man had a broken leg, another a broken jaw and a third a head injury.
All were military personnel in their early 20s from the military training camp in nearby Aldershot.
Two of the men were laying on the curb, while the third was in the doorway of a store, where the metal trim around the cracked glass was dented and had what appeared to be hair on it. Pools and drops of blood dotted the area around the victims.
They were taken to Valley Regional Hospital, where two were kept and the third released. At least one of the men underwent surgery Wednesday.
A large concrete garbage can was overturned on the sidewalk and had blood on it, while a table was on its side with one of its two-by-four legs missing. A Javex bottle with blood on it was nearby.
Police were seen with a similar piece of wood in an evidence bag.
Kentville Police Chief Mark Mander said the fight was over when police arrived, but RCMP had been called for backup.
He said police are looking for three non-white suspects, but that there was no indication the incident had racial overtones.
Kentville Mayor Gary Pearl said things have been busier in the downtown on Tuesday nights, with at least two bars offering cheaper drinks.
"It has been brought to my attention that the crowds are getting bigger on weeknights and we've passed that on to the chief," he said.
"I know (cheaper drinks) is a drawing card, but maybe they could just put it on for an hour or so."
He said bar owners are responsible but are looking for ways to deal with the traditionally slower nights.
"It looks like it's working," he said.
He said he's not worried about such incidents having a detrimental effect on the town's business or tourism because they happen late at night.
He also said there are no problems in the town with base personnel and residents.
Aldershot is quiet through the winter months but gets busier in the summer with militia reserve training.
"We welcome them to our community for the summer," Mr. Pearl said. "There are no problems at all."
Army spokeswoman Capt. Rhoda Frampton said the incident is being left to Kentville police, and military police will not be involved.
She also said there is no history of problems between military members at Aldershot and the public. About 700 reservists from across Atlantic Canada come to the camp to train between June and August, with fewer than 100 people there year-round.
Anyone with information is asked to call Kentville police.
http://www.herald.ns.ca/2004/06/24/photos/1029.jpg
Kentville police examine the spot where it's believed attackers smashed a man's head into a store window frame. Three men were found bloodied after a downtown brawl early Wednesday morning.
By IAN FAIRCLOUGH / Valley Bureau
KENTVILLE - Police are looking for suspects after a bloody brawl in the downtown early Wednesday morning.
The fracas started inside the Edge Lounge and moved out into the street at about 12:30 a.m., when Kentville police received several 911 calls.
When they arrived, they found three men bloodied and lying in the street. One man had a broken leg, another a broken jaw and a third a head injury.
All were military personnel in their early 20s from the military training camp in nearby Aldershot.
Two of the men were laying on the curb, while the third was in the doorway of a store, where the metal trim around the cracked glass was dented and had what appeared to be hair on it. Pools and drops of blood dotted the area around the victims.
They were taken to Valley Regional Hospital, where two were kept and the third released. At least one of the men underwent surgery Wednesday.
A large concrete garbage can was overturned on the sidewalk and had blood on it, while a table was on its side with one of its two-by-four legs missing. A Javex bottle with blood on it was nearby.
Police were seen with a similar piece of wood in an evidence bag.
Kentville Police Chief Mark Mander said the fight was over when police arrived, but RCMP had been called for backup.
He said police are looking for three non-white suspects, but that there was no indication the incident had racial overtones.
Kentville Mayor Gary Pearl said things have been busier in the downtown on Tuesday nights, with at least two bars offering cheaper drinks.
"It has been brought to my attention that the crowds are getting bigger on weeknights and we've passed that on to the chief," he said.
"I know (cheaper drinks) is a drawing card, but maybe they could just put it on for an hour or so."
He said bar owners are responsible but are looking for ways to deal with the traditionally slower nights.
"It looks like it's working," he said.
He said he's not worried about such incidents having a detrimental effect on the town's business or tourism because they happen late at night.
He also said there are no problems in the town with base personnel and residents.
Aldershot is quiet through the winter months but gets busier in the summer with militia reserve training.
"We welcome them to our community for the summer," Mr. Pearl said. "There are no problems at all."
Army spokeswoman Capt. Rhoda Frampton said the incident is being left to Kentville police, and military police will not be involved.
She also said there is no history of problems between military members at Aldershot and the public. About 700 reservists from across Atlantic Canada come to the camp to train between June and August, with fewer than 100 people there year-round.
Anyone with information is asked to call Kentville police.
http://www.herald.ns.ca/2004/06/24/photos/1029.jpg
Kentville police examine the spot where it's believed attackers smashed a man's head into a store window frame. Three men were found bloodied after a downtown brawl early Wednesday morning.