Police suspect "long-standing disharmony" between two groups in North Greenwood caused the altercations.
By Times Staff Writer
Published June 30, 2004
[Times photo: Name here]
About 20 Clearwater police officers responded to the North Greenwood neighborhood Tuesday to clear the area after multiple fights erupted in the afternoon. One teenager was injured and there were six arrests.
A Clearwater police officer comforts a neighborhood woman upset about Tuesday's fighting in North Greenwood. Besides multiple fights, shooting was reported at nearby Cherry Harris Park. Police were unsure whether the shooting was related to the fights in the area.
CLEARWATER - A large fight and a shooting prompted about 20 police officers to respond to the area of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue N on Tuesday afternoon.
Police maintained an increased presence in the neighborhood Tuesday evening as other, smaller fights broke out.
"We are trying to take a proactive, high-profile approach to quell anything before it erupts," police spokesman Wayne Shelor said.
Shelor said the incidents appeared to be related to "long-standing disharmony" between two groups of people in the neighborhood.
Police arrested six people on charges ranging from disorderly conduct to resisting arrest after a brawl in the 1200 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue N about 1:30 p.m.
Shortly afterward, at nearby Cherry Harris Park, officers received a report that the occupants of two cars were shooting at each other.
No injuries or arrests were reported in connection with the shooting.
Shelor said one teen was injured after he was hit in the head with a bottle during the initial fight. The assailant left the area, Shelor said.
As officers responded and tried to treat the injured teen, a large fight broke out across the street, Shelor said. More officers were called in.
Though large crowds gathered to see what was happening, officers cleared the streets quickly and removed the troublemakers, Shelor said.
"They came in and restored order and moved out," he said.
Shelor said officers are unsure whether the shooting at the park was related to the initial fight.
