Pubdate: Thu, 27 Dec 2007
Source: Prince George Citizen (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 Prince George Citizen
Contact:  http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/350
Author: Frank Peebles, Citizen staff

WINDFALL

Brawl Sends Cash Spraying Across Parking Lot, Say  Witnesses

It was a green Christmas for some last minute shoppers  in Prince
George.

In an incident seen more in Hollywood films than real  life, a spray
of cash went blowing across the Pine  Centre Mall parking lot and some
blood was spilled  after a suspected drug altercation went bad on the
afternoon of Christmas Eve.

When police arrived they made almost a dozen arrests,  spoke to other
persons of interest, took one to  hospital suffering from a stab wound
to the belly, and  heard from witnesses about a blizzard of cash. All
three of the city's established organized crime gangs  were in the
vicinity at the time.

"Witnesses advised that as many as 10 men were  fighting, some with
knives," said Prince George RCMP  Staff Sgt. Tom Bethune. "Witnesses
further advised that  $100 bills were flying in the air as the men
brawled."

"Four males were arrested in the parking lot near the  Sears, then
seven others were tracked down by other  officers a short distance
away," said RCMP Staff Sgt.  Jeff McArthur. "The stabbing victim, a
23-year-old  Prince George man, is not co-operating with police, nor
are the others involved."

McArthur added that "we are continuing to investigate  the notion that
this altercation began as a dispute  amongst rival cocaine dealers."

Bethune added credence to that. "The Prince George  leader of the gang
known as the Independent Soldiers  was arrested along with two of his
fellow gang  members," he said. "A member of another gang known as
The Crew...was also arrested. A colour wearing member  of the outlaw
motorcycle gang known as The Renegades  was interviewed near the scene
but not arrested."

In spite of the wad of money that blew away, a large  quantity of cash
was seized from the possession of some  of the suspects.

The injured man's cut was "a superficial knife wound,"  McArthur
said.

This incident is still being investigated by police  even though all
suspects were released unconditionally  not long after the brawl and
cash scramble.
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MAP posted-by: Derek