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Fight at Blaine carnival caught on video
Police drone video caught the moments as officers attempted to break up a brawl at a carnival at Northtown Mall on Saturday evening. One officer was hurt and the carnival was shut down early due to the fight.
BLAINE, Minn. (FOX 9) - Drone video shows a brawl that broke out Saturday evening during a carnival at Northtown Mall in Blaine, which left one officer hurt and forced the carnival to shut down early.
In the video, a police drone shows a fight involving a group of teenage girls, surrounded by a large crowd of onlookers – many with their phones out apparently recording the fight.
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Blaine brawl caught on drone
A massive fight at a carnival outside of the Northtown Mall in Blaine left one officer injured in a scene that was caught on camera by a Blaine Police Department drone. FOX 9’s Courtney Godrey spoke with Blaine police following the melee.
Two Blaine officers are seen trying to break up the fight. But, the assault continues, with one girl jumping on the back of an officer.
Another officer also caught an elbow to the head, suffering a concussion from the injury.
"I was livid," Blaine Police Chief Brian Podany told FOX 9 when asked his reaction to seeing the video for the first time. "I was also proud of the job they did and the restraint they showed."
The brawl lasted for several minutes before the teens ran away when officers threatened to use a chemical spray.
The mall was forced to close due to the mayhem.
"Its supposed to be a fun activity for families and kids, but some people are wrecking it for everyone," said Podany.
Podany says as a result of Saturday’s events, fencing will be installed around the carnival grounds and visitors will have to enter through a single entry point. No one under 18 will be allowed in without a guardian.
"If we have to shut it down and not grant the permit in the future, we will," said Podany. "We don’t want it to come to that."
Two teens are facing charges of assault connected to the fight.
Police say this is the second time in two years that the mall was forced to close early due to a disturbance at the carnival.
The carnival is set to reopen this week, running Wednesday through Sunday.