Four People Hurt, Six Arrested For Brawl Over Pack Of Cigarettes

[matcom]

<snip>

Four people were injured and six arrested following a brawl at a convenience store over a pack of cigarettes, authorities said.

It happened Sunday when a 20-year-old woman walked into the store on Johns Island and tried to buy cigarettes. The 18-year-old clerk would not sell them to her because the woman's driver's license was damaged.

The woman argued with the clerk, then left, returning a few minutes later with a friend who also started arguing. The friend then jumped over the counter and attacked the clerk, sheriff's deputies said.

A second clerk locked the door while the two traded blows in a fight caught on the surveillance camera. The two knocked over candy stands and oil containers and broke beer bottles as other customers gathered outside the locked store.

The clerk called relatives for help and 10 family members and friends arrived, several of them fighting with the two women customers.

When it was over, four women were injured and three arrested. Three more people were arrested on various charges on Monday.

"It's unfortunate that this incident escalated to the degree that it did," said Capt. Dana Valentine, of the Charleston County Sheriff's Office.

She said it's amazing the injuries - mainly cuts and gashes - were not more severe considering the number of people involved.

Authorities have more people to question before finishing their investigation, Valentine added.

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050607/APA/506071028

[ET Awful]

1. See? I keep telling you people that smoking is hazardous to your health

and nobody listens.

Damn.

:evilgrin:

[WI_DEM]

2. Called relatives--instead of police?

[REP]

3. They'll Never Catch Me

And I got the butts.