6 arrested in "riot" at Amherst apartment complex

AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) - Amherst police have arrested six UMass students for their conduct during what officials call a “riot” at a North Amherst apartment complex.

In a news release sent to 22News, Amherst Police Chief Scott Livingstone said that on Saturday, there were between 1,500 and 2,000 students gathered at the quadrangle of the Town House Apartments on Meadow Street.

Amid the crowd, Livingstone says that two young women had been struck and injured by flying bottles. He says that numerous fights broke out, and some people were trying to climb the roof of the building. There were also two hoax calls that were found to have been made at the complex.

A total of 12 Amherst police officers, nine state troopers, and three UMass officers were called-in to disperse the crowd. Livingstone says that some members of the crowd began throwing full beer cans and bottles at the helmeted police; with one Amherst officer being injured by a bottle thrown at her. She did not need to be hospitalized.

“As a result of this disturbance, and with the limited resources available, officers were able to make only six arrests. Of the six arrested, two were identified as throwing bottles at the police officers who were attempting to disperse them,” Livingstone wrote.

Photos: March Mug Shots

The arrested suspects are:

• Patrick Conlin, 23, of Amherst: Charged with disorderly conduct, riot, failure to disperse, and attempt to burn personality
• Michael Roy Carmasine, 22, of Yardley, PA: Charged with disorderly conduct
• Christopher McGoldrick, 20, of Meriden, CT: Charged with disorderly conduct, riot, failure to disperse, and assault with a dangerous weapon
• Terrence Meehan, 20, of Worcester: Charged with riot and failure to disperse
• Shane Niles, 21, of Hyde Park: Charged with riot, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest
• Trevor Morency, 20, of Chelmsford: Charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, failure to disperse, riot, disorderly conduct, and possession of liquor under 21

The disturbance, which Livingston referred to as a riot, happened amid the annual “ Blarney Blowout,” a pre-St. Patrick’s Day celebration among students in Amherst. Livingston says that celebrations were relatively calm in downtown Amherst and on the UMass campus.