Lumberton fight ends in Huddle House
By Lauren AllenAround The Town Editor
Some 30 people were involved in a fight at Huddle House at about 3 a.m. Nov. 5.
According to Sgt. Steven Collins of Police and Public Safety, several arrests were made on Nov. 5 by the Pembroke Police Department. No UNCP students were involved in the fight.
Campus police Chief David L. Helton said the fight started in a Lumberton area nightclub and continued at Huddle House after the two groups met again.
 Photo by Terri Rorke |
“A group of guys walked in and started exchanging words with another group of guys,” Mellet said.
Huddle House, which is open 24 hours, reportedly has Pembroke police on duty every weekend.
“We have one officer here on Fridays and then two on Saturdays,” said a Huddle House employee.
According to Lt. McDuffie Cummings of Police and Public Saftey, one police officer was on duty in Huddle House at the time of the fight.
The employee also said that some police officers were in Huddle House when the fight occurred, but that they were not on duty at the time.
Pembroke police then called for the aid of Collins from Campus Police and two officers from Pembroke police.
Mellet said she witnessed a woman being punched and kicked while trying to stop the fight.
Sgt. Collins reported that during the incident he had to use pepper spray to break up one of the many fights that occurred.
In a situation such as a fight, pepper spray is used to protect the officer as well as the people that are involved, Cummings said.
“Everything was getting really out of control, and I could hardly breathe,” reported Mellet.
This is the second time in two months that campus police have had to use pepper spray to resolve an incident.
Two people sought treatment after pepper spray was used at a September dance on campus.
The Huddle House employee said, “We don’t get a lot of fights. This was the first one in six months.”
“We really want students to come and eat here,” she said.
“With Pembroke Police and Huddle House, we’re doing our best to make this a safe environment because we want students to come eat here and just relax,” the employee said.
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The print edition of The Pine Needle is published 14 times a year during the fall and spring semesters. Updated: Friday, December 8, 2006 © The University of North Carolina at Pembroke |
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