ILS1
03-17-2005, 10:07 AM
By Sergio Chapa
THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
Thursday, March 17, 2005
BROWNSVILLE -- Law enforcement officials said Wednesday that they are working to identify suspects in Tuesday's beach brawl on South Padre Island.
Five people were hospitalized after what reportedly began as a spring break fistfight snowballed to a fight involving more than a hundred people near the Radisson Resort, near the southern end of the island.
The cause of the 5:30 p.m. melee remained unknown Wednesday, but witnesses told The Brownsville Herald on Tuesday that it could have been caused by the destruction of a religious sand sculpture or sparked by rivalries between schools.
Some witnesses said the brawl was mostly between students from the University of Texas and Oklahoma University. Others said it was between UT and Texas A&M students, and some witnesses said the brawl involved Baylor University students.
"It started out as your basic college chant and turned into a large amorphous mass," an unidentifiedUT student who witnessed the brawl was quoted as saying in Tuesday's Herald. "They were throwing chairs, ice chests and bottles."
Some witnesses said the brawl was started by people who intentionally walked on a sand sculpture of Jesus, but others said the work of art was a casualty of the violence.
"It just made it worse," an unidentified A&M student said of the destruction of the sand sculpture.
South Padre Island Police Chief Robert Rodriguez said investigators are particularly interested in finding the instigators to what they claim was a small scrap, despite witness reports to the contrary.
No arrests had been made as of Wednesday, Rodriguez said. Police are asking witnesses who have pictures or video images of the incident to come forward.
Rodriguez said that security on the island is adequate and that law and order will be maintained. Police, he said, were able to gain control the scene quickly.
Beach Brawl (http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/auto/epaper/editions/thursday/metro_state_2493935e116e71180064.html)
:eek:
THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
Thursday, March 17, 2005
BROWNSVILLE -- Law enforcement officials said Wednesday that they are working to identify suspects in Tuesday's beach brawl on South Padre Island.
Five people were hospitalized after what reportedly began as a spring break fistfight snowballed to a fight involving more than a hundred people near the Radisson Resort, near the southern end of the island.
The cause of the 5:30 p.m. melee remained unknown Wednesday, but witnesses told The Brownsville Herald on Tuesday that it could have been caused by the destruction of a religious sand sculpture or sparked by rivalries between schools.
Some witnesses said the brawl was mostly between students from the University of Texas and Oklahoma University. Others said it was between UT and Texas A&M students, and some witnesses said the brawl involved Baylor University students.
"It started out as your basic college chant and turned into a large amorphous mass," an unidentifiedUT student who witnessed the brawl was quoted as saying in Tuesday's Herald. "They were throwing chairs, ice chests and bottles."
Some witnesses said the brawl was started by people who intentionally walked on a sand sculpture of Jesus, but others said the work of art was a casualty of the violence.
"It just made it worse," an unidentified A&M student said of the destruction of the sand sculpture.
South Padre Island Police Chief Robert Rodriguez said investigators are particularly interested in finding the instigators to what they claim was a small scrap, despite witness reports to the contrary.
No arrests had been made as of Wednesday, Rodriguez said. Police are asking witnesses who have pictures or video images of the incident to come forward.
Rodriguez said that security on the island is adequate and that law and order will be maintained. Police, he said, were able to gain control the scene quickly.
Beach Brawl (http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/auto/epaper/editions/thursday/metro_state_2493935e116e71180064.html)
:eek: