By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
Two people were arrested after an altercation in a downtown Salina drinking establishment early Saturday morning.
Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning that officers responded to Big Nose Kate's, 121 N. Santa Fe Avenue, at 12:30 a.m. Saturday for the report of a disturbance involving a firearm. Witnesses told police that during an altercation involving a number of patrons, one patron, later identified as Laurence McCall, 18, of Topeka, pulled up his jacket, exposing a black handgun.
McCall had left the bar by the time police arrived and was said to be in the area of the west parking lot. A witness told police of seeing McCall conceal an item outside the building, and showed police the location, Forrester said. There they found a black Glock 22 .40 caliber handgun.
When McCall saw police in the west parking lot, he ran back inside the bar and attempted to hide in the restroom. As officers were attempting to get McCall out of the restroom, another man, identified as Dennis Wright, 25, of Salina, tried to push his way into the restroom to assist McCall, Forrester said. Wright had to be forcibly restrained, Forrester said.
McCall was arrested on the following requested charges, according to Forrester.
●Possession of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol
●Aggravated assault
●Interference with a law enforcement officer
●Consumption of liquor by a minor
Wright was arrested on the following requested charges, Forrester said.
●Interference with a law enforcement officer
●Battery of a law enforcement officer