Illegal immigrant charged after apparent knife fight
Saturday, May 03, 2008
BY KEVIN SHEA
MANSFIELD -- A New York man who cut his hand during a knife fight at the National Auto Dealers Exchange also had a loaded handgun, which police say they found after the incident.

The man, Giorgi Barnabishvili, 28, of Brooklyn, is also in the country illegally and yesterday federal authorities placed a hold on him in case he makes bail at the Burlington County Jail.

The incident began Wednesday with Barnabishvili as an apparent victim, police said.

Township police were called to the exchange, known commonly by its initials, NADE, at about 10:30 a.m. for a report of several people fighting in a parking lot.

Officers found Barnabishvili on the ground, covered in blood. Police called for an ambulance to treat the man, but soon found he was involved in the fight. Officer David Jobst determined the victim possessed a loaded handgun.

Police said there is no evidence the gun was fired or brandished during the fight. Barnabishvili apparently cut his hand when he fell to the ground while holding a knife, which police recovered.

Barnabishvili was apparently at NADE representing a vehicle dealer. Wednesday is NADE's auction day, bringing large numbers of car dealers and others in the auto business to the site.

After being treated at a local hospital, police booked Barnabishvili on weapon possession charges and learned he was an illegal alien.

Police contacted the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a notification mandated by state law for felony arrests, and learned from the agency that Barnabishvili was free on bond while awaiting deportation proceedings. Police did not say what country Barnabishvili is from.

Yesterday, police learned from ICE that a federal detainer had been put on Barnabishvili if he were to make the $25,000 cash bail at the county jail.

NADE, which is owned by the Manheim company, did not immediately return a request for comment yesterday.

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