It was shocking news that three moms attacked another mother in what was described as a boot-stomping at an elementary school Family Fun Day in Surrey two weeks ago. But it turns out it was not the only violent clash by parents while their school kids were on hand this month.
A week before the Surrey punchup, in which two women were charged with assault, two dads got into it at a Richmond elementary school sports day, and this time there was at least one weapon involved.
Two men, aged 43 and 38, began to argue in the parking lot at James Whiteside elementary at 9282 Williams Road around 9:30 a.m. on June 7 and the argument turned physical, Cpl. Sherrdean Derkatch of the Richmond RCMP said.
A Code Red was declared and the children, aged five to 13, were sent inside their secondary safe-site, the next-door Hugh McRoberts high school.
I think some of the children may have been impacted by what happened, James Whiteside principal Jane McFadyen said. But the incident was quickly resolved with the help of the RCMP.
In the end, sports day was really successful, the children got on with their day and they had a lot of fun.
The fighting dads were arrested and one weapon, believed to be a knife, was confiscated. Both men were taken by ambulance to hospital, treated for minor injuries and released.
Charges have not been approved at this time, Derkatch said.
A counsellor was available on the following Monday and Tuesday for the James Whiteside students.
We have the resources on site if any of the children are anxious, McFadyen said.
In Surrey, three women had to be pulled off the victim after ganging up on her.
There was hair pulling and eye gouging and punches being thrown, said Richard Kuebler, father of two daughters at the school.
Kuebler, a manager with UPS, separated the sparring women while school principal Teresa Starr got the children (ages five to 13) out of the area.
Its sad when you have to worry about the adults behaviour and not the kids, said Cpl. Bert Paquet of the Surrey RCMP.
The attack apparently stemmed from a previous road-rage incident when one of the women felt she was cut off.
Ben Gill, vice-president of the schools parent advisory committee, arrived just as the women were being separated.
A kick boxer and fan of mixed martial arts, Gill said hed never seen anything like it.
It was a boot-stomping, they just wouldnt let up, said Gill, who has two children at the school. Ive never seen anybody so beat up.
Gill said one of the alleged attackers said, in her own defence: Well, she started it.
With files from Surrey Now
