Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 11, 1993 TAG: 9309110230
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SANDRA BROWN KELLY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Eleven juveniles - six females and five males, and one adult were charged with assault and battery on officers and disorderly conduct. Police would not say if other charges are pending, but said a steak knife was taken from one girl.
Only minor injuries were reported despite the size of the disturbance. Two officers were hurt. One, Sgt. Eddie Hopkins, went to the hospital to get stitches in a gash on his forehead.
Maj. J.L. Viar said the fight began during the game's third quarter in a ramp off the east stands at Victory Stadium. He said Fleming fans were seated on that side.
He said the girls told officers they were arguing over a boy. When police tried to break up their fight, bystanders joined in. Viar said the fight escalated when one youth yelled for the crowd to help him get rid of some crack cocaine.
"We had a huge mob out there," Viar said.
He said officers "were fortunate to break it up" without further injuries.
He also said the youth was not charged with possession of a drug.
About a dozen police officers were on duty at the game and another 10 or so were sent to assist when the fighting began, Viar said.
Viar also said that cars were damaged when people were pushed onto them during the fight.
School officials attending the game said the crowd was larger than usual because the Department of Parks and Recreation had scheduled a dance at the stadium following the game.
The dance was canceled.
E. Wayne Harris, the city's new superintendent of schools, said the game was his first chance to see the schools compete, and he wasn't going to allow the fight to leave him with a "negative attitude."
"The fact that this city is still holding night activities is a tribute to the vast majority of the citizens," Harris said.
He said, however, that the game was an extension of the school day and any students involved in the fight would be punished as if it happened at school.
Alyce Zathmary, William Fleming's principal, and Harris said the conduct of those fighting did not represent the majority of the students at either school. As fans and police milled around the stands after the fight, current and former students stopped to talk with the educators to say how much they hated to see the fight take place.
One June graduate hugged Zathmary and said he couldn't believe people acted the way they did.
Since the fight was contained outside the playing field, many people in the stands were unaware it was happening.
However, a number of people left the game early.
Memo: ***CORRECTION***