Police had to use pepper spray after an unruly crowd in East Haven began throwing snowballs, chunks of ice, and other various items at police officers who responded to reports of a large bonfire.
According to the Danbury Daily Voice, firefighters had been called to extinguish a large bonfire on Bradford Ave. in East Haven. When the fire department arrived on the scene, people in the crowd began throwing snow and ice balls at the firefighters and fire personnel.
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When police officers arrived, they started a conversation with crowd member Glen Degray who s son had passed away only days before. The bonfire and the group of people who were invited were assembled to pay tribute to Glen Degray s son. For whatever reason, as the crowd congregated in the home s backyard, some of the members began pelting police officers with snow and ice. Captain Joseph Murgo of the East Haven Fire Dept told the Daily Voice,
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Police said firefighters were attacked by people with ice balls, snowballs and other objects while one person threatened a riot if firefighters and police did not leave. With tensions escalating, the crowd began to throw other items at the Fire Department as well as more items into the large fire, police said in a statement. As they spoke to Glenn Degray, 56, a large piece of ice, which was thrown from the crowd, struck a police cruiser with several people standing near it.
While speaking with officers, Degray threatened to start a riot if they didn t leave, police said. The crowd grew increasingly hostile, leading to Connecticut State Police and police officers from Branford and New Haven being called to the scene.
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Police in Connecticut were attacked with large chunks of ice, snowballs, and heavy items as they attempted to disperse a large crowd at a bonfire, causing officers to use pepper spray.
The incident took place on Monday, Feb. 15, when East Haven Police officers were dispatched to 113 Bradford Avenue, to assist the East Haven Fire Department with a large crowd burning a large bonfire, said Captain Joseph Murgo.
Dispatch informed responding officers that the crowd was throwing snow and ice balls at Fire Department personnel who were on scene to extinguish the large illegal bonfire, Murgo said. With tensions escalating, the crowd began to throw other items at the Fire Department as well as more items into the large fire, he said.
Crowd Assaults Cops Responding To Bonfire With Snowballs, Ice, Other Objects, Police Say dailyvoice.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailyvoice.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
State Police and departments from surrounding towns were called in to quell the crowd Author: Jennifer Glatz (FOX61) Updated: 5:53 PM EST February 16, 2021
EAST HAVEN, Conn. East Haven police officers and firefighters responding to a large, illegal bonfire were pelted by snow and ice, leading to the arrest of two men - including one for inciting a riot.
Officials say police officers were called to a home on Bradford Avenue Monday night around 10 p.m., one block away from Cozy Beach, to help the fire department as they attempted to put out a large, illegal bonfire.
According to police, the crowd at the gathering was thwarting the firefighters efforts by throwing snow and ice balls at them. Tensions further escalated with the crowd throwing other items at fire personnel as well as into the flames, they added.