Scuffles mark busy weekend for Amherst Police

While the large post-Super Bowl student gathering on the University of Massachusetts campus drew a strong law enforcement response Sunday, police were kept busy throughout the weekend by a variety of incidents, including two in which officers were assaulted.

Feb. 4 at 11:33 p.m. police were notified that a woman riding in a taxi cab had struck the driver.

The woman was identified as Michelle C. Levesque, 20, of Mashpee. Two responding officers went to her home on Northampton Road, where she kicked one and grabbed the shirt of the other, refusing to let go, said Detective David Foster.

Levesque was arrested at 12:05 a.m. on two counts of assault and battery on a police officer and charges of assault and battery, assault and disorderly conduct, Foster said.

Iona R. Masil, 19, of Barnstable was arrested at the same time and place on charges of assault and battery on a police officer and disorderly conduct, Foster said.

Neither of the officers required medical attention, Foster said.

Another incident involving an assault on an officer occurred earlier that same day on East Hadley Road on a PVTA bus. Police took a report at 1:09 a.m. on Feb. 4 that three men were causing problems. When an officer got to the scene, the men surrounded him and one of the men shoved him, Foster said.

James Gilrein, 19, of Charlton was arrested on charges of assault and battery on a police officer, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and being a minor in possession of alcohol, Foster said.

Kevin P. Pastore, 19, of Charlton was arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct, and Mitchell P. Neal, 19, of Charlton was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct, trespassing or resisting arrest, Foster said.

On Feb. 4 between 10:47 p.m. and 11:20 p.m. police were busy with incidents on Olympia Drive, off East Pleasant Street. At Sigma Phi Epsilon, police officers and firefighters responded after smoke detectors sounded and a fire extinguisher was discharged. Some drugs were located and confiscated from rooms inside the fraternity. Other incidents during that time frame included people throwing trash cans, a suspicious man looking at mail in a mailbox and partygoers loitering outside Chi Omega.

Feb. 5 at 2:37 a.m., officers observed two men trying to steal a sign for an energy drink from a Phillips Street home.

Brendan E. Brennick, 20, of Wilmington was arrested on charges of attempting to commit a crime and being a minor in possession of alcohol, while a 19-year-old Wilmington man will be summoned to court on a charge of attempting to commit a crime, Foster said.

Foster said officers also issued a $300 ticket for violating the town's noise bylaw to a 20-year-old Boxborough woman at The Boulders Feb. 3 at 10:57 p.m. when more than 20 guests were at her home.

In the same area of The Boulders Feb. 4 at 12:22 a.m., three women and one man were deliberately setting off car alarms.

The man, identified as Michael D. Loughery, 19, of Yardley, Pa., was arrested on charges of disturbing the peace and vandalism after he was found in possession of a license plate torn from one of the vehicles.

Several other vehicles also had damage to license plates, although Foster said it is not certain who caused it.

Meanwhile, police also stepped up enforcement of taxi cab regulation, issuing five citations to unlicensed taxis on Fearing Street, Triangle Street, North Pleasant Street and Main Street Feb. 3 and Feb. 4.

Fire department ambulances handled a number of calls throughout Super Bowl weekend, with nine intoxicated people requiring medical attention. Of these, six were on the UMass campus, two at Amherst College and one at Hampshire College.

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