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RIVERDALE — An argument over an alleged debt escalated into a wild melee early Monday involving up to 30 people armed with weapons ranging from a knife and a baseball bat to a cane, hammer and someone's crutches.
Seven people were arrested, and at least two others — including a teenager and a woman who was stabbed — could also face charges. At least four people were injured.
The fight was all over a debt of less than $100, said Riverdale Police Lt. Scott Brenkman.
"There's kind of conflicting stories over what (the debt) is over. But it's a really stupid reason," he said. "There's really no good reason for it. I mean, we're talking about an argument over a very small amount of money."
The debt was not drug-related, he said.
Just before 3 a.m., police were called to a large fight in the parking lot of Super Target, 1135 W. Riverdale Road. An estimated 25 to 30 people were fighting. They all ran when police arrived. By Monday afternoon, detectives had rounded up 15 to 20 for questioning.
The worst injury was to a 19-year-old woman, who was stabbed in the hand, Brenkman said. She was treated by paramedics at the scene but refused to be transported to the hospital. The Weber County Jail refused to take her, however, because of her injury. Brenkman said the woman was expected to get treatment on her own and prosecutors will consider filing charges against her as well as the others who were arrested.
Another man suffered a head injury after being hit in the back of the head with a blunt object, Brenkman said.
The majority of people who were arrested were between 20 and 21 years old and were booked for investigation of felony rioting. A few others were arrested for investigation of rioting and assault, Brenkman said.
Investigators believe the incident began at a party at the Riverdale Mobile Home Estates, 1050 W. 5100 South, earlier in the evening. Two men got into an argument over a debt.
"This person thought he was being threatened in some way so he called friends of his that came down and the fight started in the entrance into the trailer park and spilled over into the Target parking lot," Brenkman said.
Some of the friends who showed up left as soon as they saw weapons were involved with the fight, he said. Detectives do not believe the fight was gang-related.
"No gang affiliations that we can find. (He) just called some friends and made some stupid decisions, kind of what it resulted in," Brenkman said.
