Three adults hurt during melee of young men fighting with weapons in St. Paul park

Three adults were hurt when they were attacked by dozens of young men fighting with weapons at a St. Paul park Tuesday night.

Police spokesman Sgt. Mike Ernster said officers were called at 9 p.m. to a report of 20 men fighting with weapons outside Linwood Rec Center, 860 St. Clair Av. The group scattered when police arrived, Ernster said.

While investigating, police encountered a man in the park who received head and hand injuries.

"The victim was attacked with a baseball bat and possibly rocks," Ernster said. The man was taken to the hospital, and told police he was walking in the park when the group attacked him. Ernster said the victim did not know the attackers.

Ernster said two other victims were also brought to Regions Hospital for head and other injuries after they were beaten with baseball bats and attacked with knives. The victims did not want to give statements so it's difficult for investigators to make arrests or determine the underlying causes of the fights, Ernster said.

A similar dispute was also reported last Friday when at least 50 people fought and chased each other at Dunning Sports Complex on Marshall Avenue during Central High School's baseball practice. Ernster said no one was reported injured in that dispute.

Ernster said extra patrols have been in the area, and told community members to call police if they see fighting in the neighborhood.