Fight erupts in the Square

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33446, 30 January 1974, Page 18

Fight erupts in the Square

Four young men, three of them bikies, were arrested after a fight with the police in Cathedral Square watched by a crowd of about 50 yesterday afternoon.

Seven traffic officers, two noHee dogs, and policemen from five patrol cars were involved in the fight, which started lust after 4 p.m. when the police received a comnlaint about a youth swearing outside the United Services hotel. The three bikies tried to Interfere in the arrest of the youth, police said. An argument broke out which led to a scuffle.

While other police cars and several traffic officers arrived, one bikie and the youth were rushed away. Another bikie, wearing Epitaph Rider insignia, was held thrashing and handcuffed on the ground by a

policeman and two traffic officers.

He was led away struggling to a dog van. The other bikie was handcuffed to the rail in the back of a patrol car, but began struggling and shouting, and managed to open one of the rear doors.

Policemen dived at him from both sides, and he was quickly driven away to the Central Police Station. One of the policemen was treated at Christchurch Hospital for a bite on the arm, and several others had their uniforms ripped.

The fight was watched by a large crowd in Cathedral Square and by office workers in several buildings.

The men have been charged with using obscene language, and obstructing .and assaulting the police.