POLICE are continuing their investigations after arresting and releasing five men involved in a violent fracas over the weekend.

The brawl involving the five broke out on Abergavenny’s Frogmore Street on Saturday evening, culminating in Gwent Police officers using a high-voltage taser to bring down one man.

Police officers attended Frogmore Street at around 5.40pm, after public reports of a brawl. The officers later arrested five men on suspicion of assault and violent disorder.

The men – aged 33, 36 and two aged 26, all from the Brynmawr area; and a 25-year-old of no fixed address – have been released under investigation.

Four people were treated at Nevill Hall Hospital for head injuries.

Witnesses said they saw the five engaged in what they described as a ‘brawl’ with men windmilling punches at eachother in the middle of the street on a hot Saturday evening.

The commotion lasted ‘a number of minutes’ before police turned up to disperse the men fighting, as a busy Saturday crowd of people looked on aghast at the violent spectacle.

One man, photographs taken by a bystander, was dropped to the floor after a Gwent Police officer was forced to subdue him by taser. The man was then arrested and taken into custody.

A Taser, or conducted electrical weapon (CEW) is an electroshock weapon designed to incapacitate a target, without causing any permanent effects.

The fully-trained police officer pulls the trigger and fires two small dart-like electrodes which deliver a 1,200-volt electric current to the target’s body. This results in loss of voluntary control of muscles.

Tasers have invited some controversy, with critics claiming that such high-voltage stun devices can cause cardiac arrhythmia, leading to heart attack, and possibly death.

The weapon momentarily stuns or renders an attacker unconscious, yet the taser’s low electrical power ensures a non-lethal charge.

General consensus centres upon its ethical use, agreeing that the taser does not cause permanent damage or long-term aftereffects to muscles, nerves or other body functions.

A police officer was also hurt during the skirmish, but has since returned to duty, after receiving treatment for his injuries.

Officers arrested the five men on suspicion of assault and violent disorder – where they spent time in police custody before being released pending further investigation by Gwent Police.

“We are appealing for witnesses following reports of serious disorder on, Saturday June 22, in Abergavenny,” said a police spokesman.

“At about 5.40pm officers were called to the scene at Frogmore Street. Officers arrested five men on suspicion of assault and violent disorder.

Four people have been taken to Nevill Hall Hospital with head injuries where they are currently being treated. One police officer, who was also assaulted at the scene, has been treated and has since returned to duty.”

Officers remained in the area during the evening.

Drunk driver tried to ‘run over’ local policeman

Police charged a man over the weekend with dangerous driving, following an incident in Abergavenny on Saturday during which a local police officer received minor injuries. The incident happened at shortly after 5pm in St Teilo’s Road. The 31-year-old man, from Abergavenny, has also been charged with driving whilst disqualified, driving whilst over the prescribed alcohol limit, and driving with no insurance.

Anyone with any information that could help is asked to call us on 101 quoting log 383 22/06/19 or you can direct message the force via Facebook or Twitter accounts. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.