Near Riot on South Side, July 4

[yfdgricker]

From the WYTV Channel 33 Web Site...

Police Defend Actions at Weekend Riot
Youngstown
Gerry Ricciutti

Youngstown police are defending their actions this week in handling what officers are calling a riot.

It started late Sunday as hundreds gathered to watch fireworks near the corner of Market Street and Chicago Avenue on the city's southside. Before long, the crowd was blocking traffic in the area.

But when police tried to get the people to move, problems began.

Witnesses claim police overreacted, using night sticks and pepper spray on the crowd.

In the end, half a dozen people were arrested, and officers from four other departments had joined the melee to help Youngstown Police bring the situation under control.

Four of the suspects, all members of the same family, were in court Tuesday morning.

Their charges range from assaulting police officers to riot and resisting arrest.

[jay]

As it turns out, those arrested were from Boardman.

[yfdgricker]

From the WYTV Channel 33 Web Site..

Near Riot in Youngstown
Youngstown
Gerry Ricciutti

Five people are expected in Municipal Court this week after a fireworks-watching party went badly out of control. Youngstown Police tell us dozens had gathered overnight to watch fireworks near the corner of Chicago and Market on the city's southside. But when the crowd started blocking traffic in the area, officers arrived to get the people moving again. At that point, several witnesses complain things turned ugly, as police reportedly used pepper spray to break up the group. Police are not saying much about the incident -- other than the suspects arrested face felonies ranging from "rioting" to "assault" and "resisting arrest."

[jay]

Local radio stations today are reporting that a near riot took place on Market Street at Chicago on the evening of the 4th of July.  A crowd blocked Market Street when they gathered to watch illegal fireworks in that neighborhood.  Several people were arrested and some policemen were roughed up.