Police break up street fights

TIFTON -- The Tifton Police Department was called to the scene of two large street fights involving weapons Monday and made one arrest.

E-911 received three calls about a large group of people fighting in the area of the 1100 block of South Park Avenue about 7:08 p.m. Monday. The fighters were said to be using bottles, pipes and other weapons during the melee.

Tifton Police units responded to the area and the combatants were already clearing out. Police reported several broken bottles in the roadway. None of the people in the area would speak with police, who waited there until the crowd had cleared completely.

Then, at 7:29 p.m., 911 dispatch received another call about a large group fighting again near the same area. Again, the fighters were armed with bottles, bats, pipes and other weapons.

Sgt. Scott Bowers of the TPD arrived on the scene and said there were at least five black males and females brandishing bats and pipes. He said one man, Charles Edward Monroe, 19, of Tifton, swung a bat at some of the other people. Bowers said he ran up to Monroe and the subject dropped the bat. Another man picked up the bat and ran from the scene.

Monroe was placed under arrest for disorderly conduct and transported to the Tift County Law Enforcement Center.

Neither witnesses nor Monroe could tell police why the group was fighting. Monroe reportedly said that his brother-in-law was involved, so he got involved as well.