Ryrie St fist fight leaves shop owner bloodied in Geelong’s CBD

Punches were thrown, brakes squealed and bystanders tried to intervene as a nasty fist fight broke out in Geelong’s CBD on Tuesday afternoon. SEE THE VIDEO.

A shirtless tradie and a shop owner exchanged blows in a brawl in Geelong’s CBD on Tuesday afternoon.

Footage shows a man in a hi-vis shirt and work boots tangling with the owner of a convenience store on Ryrie St in the heart of the city just before 2.30pm.

The Geelong Advertiser was told the man allegedly became violent after staff at the store asked another customer, who the man didn’t appear to know, for identification.

The tradie, driving a black ute, and the shop owner on the street outside McDonald’s where witnesses said there was almost a collision.

It’s alleged the man began shouting and swearing, and was asked to leave.

He then asked the shop owner to “step outside”.

A brawl then ensued, with blows exchanged, leaving the shop owner bloodied with facial injuries.

The footage shows the man losing his shirt during he conflict.

Julie Lawson, who witnessed the fight, said she was walking down the street when she saw the two men “tussling”.

“We just saw arms swinging and we started recording,” Ms Lawson said.

One of the men puts their shirt back on following the fight.

According to Ms Lawson, the man in the hi-vis came close to running over the shop owner as he left the scene.

“It was very, very close,” she said.

Ms Lawson said she just hoped “everyone is OK.”

“I hope the cops get them,” she said.

“It’s not fair on anyone to get abused like that just randomly.”

Brodie Archer, who also witnessed the event, said it took him “a while” to process what was unfolding.

“We called the police,” Mr Archer said.

“Then we just stayed out of it, don’t want to get caught up in that at all.”

Victoria Police said the altercation appeared to be between two parties known to each other.

Originally published as Ryrie St fist fight leaves shop owner bloodied in Geelong’s CBD