THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 28, 1994 TAG: 9409280572
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
Security at Harbor Park and Chittum Field will be increased following a fight in the stands at Harbor Park that halted play for 20 minutes during the Indian River-Lake Taylor football game Friday night.
The school system has employed a minimum of nine policemen at games and will up that number to 12. In addition, school security officers will be used to a greater degree.
Sixteen police officers and two school security officers will patrol Friday's game between Lake Taylor and Norview at Chittum Field.
The decisions were made at a meeting of the five Norfolk high school's principals and athletic directors and security directors Tuesday.
``We discussed our operations at Chittum Field and Harbor Park and discussed what happened over in Newport News last week,'' said Lake Taylor principal John Osteen.
In the Newport News incident, two Ferguson High students were arrested Saturday afternoon during a game between Tabb and Ferguson at Todd Field after one of the students dropped a loaded 9 millimeter semi-automatic Glock during a fight behind the stands.
After reviewing the Indian River-Lake Taylor game films, Osteen said that it was determined that the fight in the stands was a ``feud between two neighborhoods.''
``Twelve guys, none of which are current students, came into the game after it started and attacked three Lake Taylor students from another neighborhood,'' Osteen said.
Police used pepper gas to break up the fight. As a result, the fight moved from the stands onto the playing field. Osteen said no charges had been filed.
Another problem that was discussed was the Norfolk Tides' policy of opening only one gate at Harbor Park for incoming spectators. A huge backup caused some fans to miss part of Friday's game.
An additional gate will be open for remaining games and Osteen said more metal detectors will be used to speed up traffic flow. Also beepers and telephones will not be permitted at games except for medical personnel. by CNB