Cat fight occurs outside the zoo

ST. PAUL, Minn., July 17 (UPI) -- Two women got into a physical fight over a parking space in a crowded lot at a Minnesota zoo.

The problem started Sunday afternoon when a 22-year-old Scandia woman and her friend spied a spot someone was leaving at the Como Zoo in St. Paul. Although a minivan was queued up to take the spot, the woman got out and stood in the space to reserve it until her friend could park there.

While the woman was standing there, the minivan driver moved closer, threatening to run her down, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported Tuesday. When she stood her ground, a woman passenger allegedly got out of the minivan and attacked the woman, allegedly shoving, punching and scratching her, as well as ripping her shirt.

The minivan driver separated the two and they took off, police said.

Tom Walsh, a spokesman for St. Paul police, said both women have important lessons to learn, like waiting your turn and not behaving badly because someone else has. As it turned out, the first woman's provocative behavior was for nothing, since her friend found another space while she was standing there.