2003: Police Respond to Brutality Accusations - 5/6/2003
The Amherst Police Department (APD) and the University of Massachusetts Police Department (UMDP) released a statement yesterday regarding their use of force in Saturday's riot on N. Pleasant Street. The riot, which took place in the vicinity of Puffton Village Apartments, confronted police with such dangers as glass bottles and stones flying through the air.
APD Chief Charles Scherpa said that police forces present at the riot did what was necessary to break up destructive behavior. He commended the officers whom he felt were remarkable in their efforts to control crowds.
"I'm really proud of the men and women who showed remarkable restraint in the face of bricks and rocks and glass bottles and cans coming through," he said. "Basically, they did a hell of a job in a hell of a situation and we're very proud of them."
According to Scherpa, the situation that the APD, UMPD and state police officers faced at the riots was extremely dangerous. He said that officers used the force necessary to bring the episode under control and that police faced an intimidating situation.
"You have to put yourself in that situation," he said. "It is very scary. You don't know if you're going to come out of there."
Scherpa said that a large gathering of over 1,000 individuals had gathered at Hobart Lane and was dispersed in the afternoon. By 9 p.m. the APD decided that the situation was under control.
"It was just a normal Saturday night," he said.
According to Scherpa, around 12:30 a.m. a crowd was gathering at the corner of Hobart Lane and N. Pleasant Street. Individuals then began to throw beer bottles and cans at the police, as well as move furniture into the street to build a bonfire. The police attempted to stop this process, because of prior history of a bonfire at the Hobart party, he said. This caused the crowd to erupt.
"That's when everything just kind of went loose," Scherpa said.
One APD cruiser had its front windshield broken, the rear right window smashed in, the back windshield shattered, the antenna broken off, the left rear door severely dented, the front windshield scratched and a flat tire. APD police estimate between $17 thousand and $18 thousand in damages to their cruisers, which sustained impact from several rocks and bottles. UMPD is unsure of how much the damage to their vehicles will cost to repair.
One Hobart resident said the disruption from this party is a yearly occurrence. The situation made it impossible for her to move her car off the street, starting at around 2 p.m., she said.
"[Each year] I've been trapped at one end or the other, with all the frustration, the risk and the fear."
Many of those partying felt that the police acted irresponsibly and unprofessionally, even in the face of a crowd of what police estimate to be around 2,000 people.
Jessica Lilly, a sophomore communications major said an officer turned to the side and pushed her into the bushes with his shield, even though she was not in their direct path.
"It was uncalled for," she said.
Christopher P. Meoli, a junior majoring in German and Italian studies, said police tackled him shortly after he politely asked some officers about placing hazard cones or flares in the street. There was a Ford Explorer parked with its lights off beside some rubble, which Meoli guessed was what remained of the Puffton bus stop after it burned down. According to Meoli, shortly after he spoke with the officers, who he said swore at him, he was chased on foot and tackled by four of them. He was then arrested and taken away. Erin McCabe, a girl with whom he was walking during the incident, confirmed the story.
Scherpa said those involved in the riot know they are responsible for what they have done. They are not hardened criminals and know responsibility, he said.
"I'm sure that the vast majority of them are looking back now, and they might be smiling but deep down inside they know that they were wrong."
