Three men required hospital treatment after a group brawl involving a wheel brace on George St early yesterday.
It was the most serious incident in "a very busy" night of disorder that resulted in 20 arrests, Sergeant Chris George, of Dunedin said.
In the incident on George St, near St Andrew St, 12 people were reported fighting about 5.15am.
A 36-year-old man was in police custody following the assault and the man he was alleged to have struck with the wheel brace was taken to Dunedin Hospital with facial injuries, he said.
Detective Iain Ferguson, of Dunedin CIB, said another male was treated at hospital for a head injury and had since been discharged, and a third man received minor injuries.
The incident began when two of the men had an altercation in an inner-city bar, he said.
The altercation was broken up and the two parties went their separate ways, Det Ferguson said.
However, a chance meeting outside the dairy on the corner of the two streets reignited the disagreement.
"We're still investigating, but there is the likelihood further charges will be laid."
Anyone who witnessed the incident and were not involved, should contact police, Det Ferguson said.
Sgt George said yesterday afternoon the man who had been arrested was also taken to hospital after his condition deteriorated in police cells.
It was believed he sustained a head injury during the brawl, he said.
Saturday night's good weather seemed to contribute to "a lot of drunk people" being on the streets.
The station usually dealt with about 25 arrests over an entire weekend, he said.
In another incident, an off-duty police officer was threatened with a solid steel bar after he tried to intervene when he a saw a man allegedly assault a female on Main South Rd, Green Island, at 10.50am yesterday.
The pair then left in a Toyota car and were found by police in North Rd at 12.50pm.
The female was uninjured and the 23-year-old, Dunedin man was charged with assaulting the female and possession of an offensive weapon, Sgt George said.
