Increase in arrests as students come back to Amherst

AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) - From disorderly conduct to noise violations and even vandalism, students gave residents of Amherst quite the homecoming ceremony.

Amherst Police Sergeant Brian Daly told 22News more than 30 students were arrested over the Labor Day Weekend, most of them UMass students. He says 30 other students were given summonses and handed out town bylaw citations as they violated noise and alcohol laws.

“This is an increased number,” Daly said, “It's certainly isn't the busiest we've ever been, but we were extremely busy for the resources we had in the field.”

This was not only a rude awakening for residents though, businesses also saw some damage. Bueno y Sano restaurant on Boltwood Walk got its window smashed.

Amherst resident Ellen Roy says that it’s troubling, but it’s not reflective of the entire student community.

“I think it's a problem, but I do think it is a small percent of the population,” Roy said. “It's unfortunate.”

UMass says returning students were not scheduled to come back to campus until Saturday, and that most of the disturbances happened overnight Thursday.

Amherst police, however, tell us an influx of students of this magnitude can exhaust the department, even though they are fully staffed. They are now asking for the community's help to find out how, visit the Amherst Police Department’s website.