2004: Crowds Gather at Hobart - 5/3/2004
Small crowds gather at Hobart
By: Morris Singer, Collegian Staff
Posted: 5/3/04
Numerous police patrolled the area near Hobart Lane this weekend and broke up crowds before a riotous atmosphere similar to that of last year's Hobart Hoedown could develop.
Between Saturday afternoon and 2:30 a.m., Sunday, Amherst Police Department officers arrested 21 persons, all but one for alcohol-related offenses, including violation of the open container bylaw, minor person in possession of alcohol and operating under the influence of alcohol. One person was arrested for a disorderly person offense, assault and battery and malicious destruction of property.
A statement from the APD noted that the number of arrests is typical for a weekend.
A police presence had accumulated by early afternoon, when not more than 50 guests had come to the area around Hobart Lane and Puffton Village Drive to celebrate.
The police continued to gather all day long, and by nightfall, officers stood at almost every street corner. Cruisers from either the APD or the Massachusetts State Police passed by on North Pleasant Street every few minutes.
APD officers patrolled Puffton Village Drive in the cruisers, on bicycles and on foot. Officers from APD also gathered on Hobart Lane, in addition to an ambulance and a paddy wagon from the Hampshire County Sheriff.
A private company provided security at the apartments on Hobart Lane.
Throughout most of the night, parties carried on relatively unbridled. However, police appeared to have a problem with people who gathered outside.
At about 12:30 a.m., Amherst Police moved onto Puffton Village Drive to break up a small crowd that had developed both at the bus stop and across the street.
"In about five minutes, 50 cops in full riot gear are going to come in here and start pelting everyone with pepper-ball," one officer shouted at a man outside of 22 Puffton Village Drive, whom he held by the sleeve of his shirt.
That moment never came, but the comments did anger one of the residents of the apartment.
"It's almost like they're trying to prevent people from having anything to happen - anything at all - just in case it gets bad," said Joseph P. Gratta, a sophomore legal studies student who is living in the apartment.
Regardless of police presence, some residents were happy that a riot did not develop.
"[The police have] been a lot better than they were last year," said William J. Stofflet, Jr., a junior resource economics student.
Last year's Hobart Hoedown became a riot shortly before midnight after police broke up a large party on Hobart Lane. The displaced partygoers formed a crowd across the street at Puffton Village Drive, last year, and began to throw projectiles at police and start fires.
Police at last year's event fought back with mace and clubs, arrested 45 people and dispersed the crowd in about two hours.
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