August 6, 2011

Witnesses Describe Mob Attacks Outside Wis. State Fair

WEST ALLIS, Wis. -- Midway workers at the Wisconsin State Fair said Thursday night's trouble may have been brewing near the rides before spilling out into the streets.

12 News spoke to several workers who were staffing the midway Thursday night. Those workers said that there were several groups of ethnically-diverse kids acting unruly after dark.

Jessica, a midway ride worker, said groups were "stampeding" into the rides.

"We had two cat fights right here," she said. "We had a little boy get jumped over there, they came over there, beat him in the back of the head till he fell on the ground, then took off."

Workers said the State Fair police were present, but were outnumbered.

"I watched one girl sit there and smack a cop in the face four times," said Tina, a food vendor. "The cop picked her up and slammed her on the ground. I mean, they don't care."

Several workers we spoke to said they were concerned not only for their jobs, but for their lives.

"That's why we lost Summerfest," Tina said. "We used to be out there. Why do they think rides and stuff ain't out there no more?"

State Fair maintains their own police force on the fair grounds

Milwaukee police said at least seven people were taken to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries during several attacks outside the fairgrounds. They said that number could go up as other responding agencies release information.

Police said the incidents happened in various areas near the fair grounds, including near the intersection of 84th and Adler streets.

Footnote:  There were lots of other articles that I could have reposted along with photos and videos from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and/or from local TV station sites but it only takes reading one article to summarize how I feel about this mess - SAD and OUTRAGED!

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