Security officer seriously injured in bus station brawl
Hanley England March 13 2018
Four people have been arrested after a bus station brawl which left a security guard seriously injured.
Police were called to a large fight off Lichfield Street, in Hanley, just before 10pm on Saturday. There were reports that one of the men had ‘overpowered’ security staff who had tried to intervene.
One person was taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital with a head injury. Two others were also hurt.
Sentinel reader Anastacia Azarenko witnessed the brawl. She said: “There were about five or six drunk guys kicking off. Absolutely terrifying.
“Then they started attacking the security guys and it all moved into the bus station. Then a police car arrived, so I thought it all would end, but it seems like something else happened inside as in 15 minutes another two police cars were on the way there.
“Disgusting behaviour. And very worrying to watch as no one could go out or into the bus station. It wasn’t safe.”
Officers arrested three people at the scene and detained a fourth person in the early hours of Sunday.
Passengers yesterday vowed not to let the incident stop them using the bus station, although some said they would avoid catching a bus there after dark.
Eighteen-year-old student Kelly Dio, from Abbey Hulton: “I’m not surprised to hear about it. Hanley definitely isn’t a safe place. I won’t go to Hanley past 7pm. I don’t like meeting at the bus station.”
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Pensioner Winifred Ellis said she was shocked to hear of the brawl. The 89-year-old, from Baddeley Green, added: “It’s horrible that it’s escalated to a point where someone has been taken to hospital.
“I feel safe using the bus station and we use it often because it’s a necessity. Despite what’s happened, I still feel safe using the station.”
Student Melissa Vaughan uses the bus station frequently. The 20-year-old, from Cheadle, said: “I’m not surprised to hear about this happening. You hear stories about people fighting in Hanley late at night.
“People using the bus station shouldn’t be subjected to seeing that. I probably wouldn’t use it late at night, but during the day I wouldn’t have any problem.”
Now police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident on Saturday night to get in touch.
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A police spokesman said: “We were called to reports of five males fighting at Hanley bus station. Three of the men have been arrested and three people have been injured. One patient has suffered a head injury and was taken to hospital for further treatment. Two others suffered minor injuries to their hands.
“A number of officers attended the incident after it was reported to us some of the men had overpowered the guards. No weapons are believed to have been used in the fight.”
Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call Staffordshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 895 of March 10.
