UMass trying to ID postgame rioters

By Kristin Palpini
Staff Writer

Published on December 22, 2006

The University of Massachusetts Police Department is asking the public for help in identifying people who took part in a violent campus riot that erupted shortly after a university football game last Friday night.

The riot took place at 11:10 p.m., some 10 minutes after Appalachian State defeated the UMass Minutemen in the NCAA championship in Chattanooga, Tenn. The student-driven chaos in the Southwest residence hall plaza was marked by fires, looting, destruction of property and physical assaults. Flattened trash cans, chunks of concrete and full beer cans were thrown at UMass, state and Amherst police officers in riot gear.

UMass Police Chief Barbara O'Connor narrowly escaped a trip to the hospital or worse when a gallon of water was dropped from an upper level floor of a residence hall. The container landed within a few feet of the chief, according to police.

UMass administrators have vowed swift and harsh penalties against rioters. On Friday, 11 people, 10 of them UMass students, were arrested in connection with the riot. Although disciplinary actions are being considered, none has been exacted upon the students yet, said UMass spokesman Edward F. Blaguszewski.

Blaguszewski said more arrests will follow in the coming days and weeks.

Police "are going to vigorously review video evidence to ID other people involved in the incident and, as we accumulate the evidence, we will proceed with discipline," he said. Student discipline could include expulsion from the university and criminal charges, he said.

A public safety alert generated by the UMass police and emailed to the UMass community states that UMass police will soon post video and photos taken at the riot on the department's Web site, www.umass.edu/umpd.

Police are asking the public to help them identify the people in the online images, and to contact police with any other information on people involved in the riot. Tips are being received by the detective department at 545-0893, or through their anonymous tip line, 577-TIPS or anonymously online.

Although there were an estimated 1,800 people present when the riot broke out, Blaguszewski said only a small portion of the crowd participated in violent actions. Most were onlookers, he said.

Blaguszewski said UMass administrators are not considering imposing any new student policies or security measures at this time in light of the riot.

The campus recently underwent several security upgrades, including the addition of 182 video surveillance cameras (bringing the total up to 450 cameras across campus), swipe cards at residence hall entryways, more police cadets and a more aggressive police stance against illegal activities in dorm rooms.

"We need to use those tools effectively," Blaguszewski said. "We haven't had a significant incident like this in a couple of years, not since 2004, so that's what's particularly upsetting about this."

In 2004, over the course of four days, 79 students were arrested on the UMass campus in connection with riots and unruly groups that formed after Red Sox baseball games. Friday's riot at UMass also resulted in a lot of property damage, including 100 broken windows. Blaguszewski said it is unclear at this time how much the repairs will cost. The campuswide email claims the cost of repairs will be "quite high." Repairs have already begun.

"The focus is get the work done, put the place back together and then look at what the bill is," said Blaguszewski.

He said an estimate on the total cost of the damage is expected to come together toward the end of the week.