Fargo hotel security guard places fight suspect under citizen’s arrest
FARGO N.D. June 20 2018 — A bizarre early morning for police involved several fights, a shoe used as a weapon, and a citizen’s arrest.
The Ramada Inn on 13th avenue south in Fargo hosted a rap concert Sunday night.
A few hours after the concert ended, it hosted police.
Police say numerous fights broke out, and several were injured. Only one person landed in jail.
One of those fights ended with some serious injuries.
Investigators say during one of the scuffles, a person was attacked, and taken to the ground before two more people jumped on him.
“Two African-American males began hitting that victim who was already on the ground with a rock,” says Jessica Schindeldecker, a spokesperson with the Fargo Police Department.
The victim was taken away by ambulance, his condition unknown..
“(he was) Breathing but not verbally responsive,” says Schindeldecker.
He wasn’t the only one hurt in the fray. WDAY cameras caught another victim who was taken by ambulance.
“Someone was sitting next to them with a small cut above their eyebrow, caused by a show thrown at their head,” explains Schindeldecker.
Police say there were several other fights between midnight and 4 on Sunday morning, but only one arrest. That arrest wasn’t even initially made by police.
“They (the suspect) were placed under citizen’s arrest by the security officer on duty at the Ramada,” says Schindeldecker.
Twenty-year-old Penja Lawuya is in Cass County Jail, booked on a disorderly conduct charge.
Police say he may be the only arrest, since many witnesses aren’t willing to talk.
“Not very many people are forthcoming with information, so we can go off the leads we have and the witnesses that we’ve been able to speak to,” explains Schindeldecker.
The causes of those fights aren’t known at this point.
WDAZ
