WINONA, Minn. – Police called for reinforcements to break up a girl fight at Maplewood Townhomes, then used pepper spray to disperse the crowd. At one point, police said, there were 20 combatants and lots of biting and punching. The brawl, about 2:40 p.m., apparently grew out of a fight a couple hours earlier at the Middle School. Teachers called for police after being unable to stop the girl fight. Police quelled the tumult, which involved girls mostly 13 to 17 years old. One person, Keisha Verlynn Henderson, 39, was arrested. Eight were ticketed. his, as pieced together from police and witnesses, is what happened:
> 1:30 p.m.: A group of Winona Middle School girls began fighting outside the school. Staff attempted to intervene to deescalate the situation. Police were called. Meanwhile, Henderson, age 39, ran into the fight to take sides. Once on site, Police arrested Henderson. Three others were also cited for assault. There were minor injuries, police said.
> 2:40 p.m.: A woman who had been involved in the Middle School ruckus called police to report that another woman, who also was involved the school fight, was driving through Maplewood Townhomes and yelling threats. Two officers responded and ordered the two women to stand down. At that point, police said, Darlene Denise Riles, 33, took off her jacket with intent to attack the other woman – and they went at it. As the officers attempted to break up fight, three or four other groups began to brawl, police said. One woman was on top of another pummeling her. The officers shouted to disperse. They didn’t. Then came the cavalry, Thirteen officers from the Winona and Goodview police departments and the County sheriff’s office arrived. Half an hour later the situation was controlled. A 16-year-old girl was hit in the face and suffered a black eye. No one reported injured from the pepper spray, police said.
Now to court
Criminal charges pending:
> Keisha Verlynn Henderson, 39, of Winona.
> Darlene Denise Riles, 33, of Winona.
Also eight tickets to juveniles.