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. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek