AMHERST — A popular gathering spot in North Amherst for off-campus parties again attracted some 1,500 college-age revelers Saturday afternoon, even though a 7-foot-tall fence installed on the property last month is designed to limit access for non-residents.

Five Amherst Police officers spent 90 minutes at Townehouse Apartments, 50 Meadow St., observing people partying after being called by employees of a private security company, said Detective Greg Wise.

The partygoers, throwing beer bottles and cans at the private security detail, were hanging out in the open grassy area, known as the East Quad, that remains accessible to anyone. The fence blocks access only to the West Quad, though visitors can still get into the area if they enter an apartment. No arrests were made at Townehouse and the party-goers began to leave as they became aware they were being watched by police, Wise said.

Drunken behavior led to some of the 244 calls for service during the weekend.

At 3:12 a.m. Saturday, the bottom pane of glass in the front door of Sunset Grill & Pizza, 150 Fearing St., was smashed out by someone in a crowd outside the shop about two hours early.

At 2 a.m. Sunday, three men were observed tampering with the electronic sign set up on Triangle Street near the construction area for a new roundabout. The men fled, but Nicholas John Ramirez, 20, of Orleans, was caught and arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct, Wise said.

It’s unknown if the sign was damaged.

Police also assisted firefighter paramedics with an intoxicated man bleeding from his head at a party at a West Street home at 1:30 a.m. Sunday, as well as a woman who fell down a flight of stairs at a Nutting Avenue fraternity at 2:03 a.m. Sunday.

The Amherst Fire Department reported responding to seven additional incidents during the weekend involving drunken patients, including five on the University of Massachusetts campus. 

The sun and mild temperatures on Sunday spurred more activity, including a gathering of 20 people at Townehouse at 9:30 p.m. who were warned for playing loud music. Police also twice responded to North Prospect Street, at 5:52 pm. and 6:15 p.m., as loud music was bothering neighbors and people were tossing a football across the road.

 At 7:01 p.m., police shut down a loud party on Main Street, and 50 guests were sent on their way from another party on Amity Street at 9:49 p.m.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com

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