Man charged over brawl outside Pacific Pines school

UPDATE: Charges have been laid after a shocking melee in a high school car park put staff and students on high alert.

UPDATE: Teachers are guarding the gates at a Gold Coast highschool after a massive brawl rocked the school community yesterday afternoon.

Seniors at Pacific Pine State High this morning said many of those involved in the fight were not at school today and tensions had calmed.

They said younger students were scared and parents were also concerned.

A 29-year-old man has been charged after yesterday’s wild brawl. Detectives charged the man from Coomera with one count each of going armed so as to cause fear, possession of a knife in a public place and driving while under the influence.

Police were called after a fight between rival student groups broke out in the carpark about 3pm.
The man allegedly threatened other people with a torque wrench.

Police detain a person outside the school.

Other teenagers who were involved in the fight fled the scene and police are still looking for them.

A 16-year-old boy and the 29-year-old man were taken into custody at the scene.

The 16-year-old boy was later released with a caution.

A 17-year-old student who saw the fight told the Gold Coast Bulletin a dozen teachers tried to break up the combatants and one was injured in the chaos.

“Heaps of people were fighting, maybe 15 or 20, and they were throwing punches,” he said.

“It was a massive fight and it escalated really fast.”

After breaking up the fight, police officers detained another student who claimed to have been part of the brawl.

The boy became violent and officers had to lock him against their car to handcuff him before driving him home to his parents. He was not charged.

Acting district duty officer Senior Sergeant Brad Miller said police were looking for two more people who were also involved in the fight.

“We believe there are two outstanding but there could be more,” he said.

A Department of Education statement said Pacific Pines State High School had zero tolerance for violence.

“The principal is working with staff, students and the wider community to promote a safe and supportive school environment,” the statement said.

“The incident has also been referred to the Queensland Police Service, who are ­investigating.”

Anyone with any information on the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Man charged over brawl outside Pacific Pines school