TWO people have been arrested after bin men were filmed brawling with members of the public on a high street in Kent last month.
Horrifying footage from July 5 shows the pair fighting passers-by and wildly swinging chairs before one is knocked out cold and left lying on the pavement.
Kent Police confirmed that two men were arrested following the shocking incident that occurred on Chatham High Street.
A spokesperson told Kent Online that investigating officers had arrested a 30-year-old from Sittingbourne on suspicion of affray and two counts of assaulting an emergency worker.
A second man, 28, was also arrested on suspicion of affray.
Both men were held in connection with the brawl that was filmed by multiple passers-by and was shared online.
Footage shows the pair rampaging through the high street screaming and aggressively shouting at people to fight them as horrified shoppers walk past.
One drags two chairs he had stolen while passing a pub – with a member of staff desperately running after him to retrieve them.
Shortly afterwards, one of the pair is knocked out cold during a scuffle with a member of the public and is seen lying prostrate on the floor.
One woman watching shouts “Jim! Get away!” as the fight unfolds.
Witnesses are then seen walking up to the unconscious man and taking his picture as he lies completely still on the pavement.
As his friend walks back he pulls off his top, revealing his beer belly, as one witness screams: “Don’t be coming at me mate.”
Police had attended the scene at the time, however, those responsible had already left the area.
The two arrested have been released pending further enquiries.
Medway Norse, the Medway Council-owned company which runs bin collections and street cleaning, dismissed the two bin men from their roles last month.
The firm’s operations director, Andy Mann, said the behaviour apparently centred around a “family dispute.”
He said: “We have taken immediate action and the individuals have today been dismissed from any role they held with us.
“One was fulfilling their six-month probation period, and the second was fulfilling a temporary agency role, so was not a direct employee of Norse.
“As we are also supporting the police investigation into the matter, it is inappropriate to comment further other than to say that, at this point in time, we understand that this incident centred around a family dispute.”
Alicia, who filmed the scenes, said she understood that at least one of the men’s last shifts had been on Saturday and he was still wearing the same uniform – making it a possibility that he had been drinking for 48 hours.
She said: “They were bin men in their uniforms. The next thing they were taking chairs and throwing them at people.
“I think he’d been in the pub since the England match. It was frightening.”
Anyone with information or who witnessed the incident who has not yet spoken to officers can call 01634 792209, quoting reference 46/118487/21.
You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers in Kent anonymously on 0800 555 111 or complete the online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
