UPDATE with video: Mead Street fight may have involved 30, taunting a driver

By Stephanie Brien and Lindsay Fiori
Journal Times

Monday, August 4, 2008 4:01 PM CDT

RACINE — A fight involving about 30 people today may have started when some taunted a driver for driving erratically at the 1800 block of Mead Street, police said.

Police received a call for assistance at 1:13 p.m. after someone in the area reported a possible gunshot, police said.

No one was shot, said Racine Police Sgt. Bernie Kupper.

Police believe the fight occurred after people on the street taunted a driver who they saw driving erratically, Kupper said. As a result of the taunting, the driver stopped the car and approached the people on the street and a fight ensued, he continued. The fight included about 30 people, Kupper said.

Police believe that confusion about a gun shot resulted when a woman came outside of a house with a bb gun to try to help a fight victim. She was taken into custody, Kupper said. Police do not believe she fired any shots, Kupper said. (story continues after video jump)

The only victim was the one male whose head struck the ground after he tripped backwards, police said. He received a series of cuts that caused a large amount of bleeding, police said. He was taken to the hospital and is expected to be fine.

In an effort to look for injured people and weapons, about six police with guns drawn cleared a home at 1832 Mead Street. Police Chief Kurt Wahlen said the home was related to the incident, but did not say how.

The police also found drug substances in the street, Wahlen said.

Priscilla Guider, 22 of Milwaukee, was attending a funeral in the area for her cousin, Terrence Miller.

Miller was killed in a home invasion at 3315 Victory Ave. in the early morning hours of July 23.

“When they said someone had a gun, we all just started running,” Guider said. She said she did not hear any shots fired.

Many other funeral-goers stood around in the 1800 block until the ambulance drove away.

“My dog barked but I didn’t hear anything,” said Willie Price, who lives across the street from where the fight broke out. “I came out and looked out my peephole” in the front door.

Price called 911 after she saw people fighting in the street and one man laying on the ground.

The Racine Police Department’s gang unit and community oriented policing unit also responded.

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