Update: Reports are trickling in that three arrests have been made in association with the violent rager that occurred just off the University of Akron's campus earlier this month.
Timothy Wallette II, 22, of Mentor was arrested in a drunken stupor as police stormed the scene with riot gear and tear gas in the wee hours of the morning on Sept. 1. He was charged with failure to disperse and disorderly conduct for throwing beer bottles at the ascending police officers and then forgetting to scram. Despite his severe lapse in judgement, Wallette isn't much worse for the wear. He has pleaded guilty, paid his fines and court costs, and will (hopefully) resume more low-key drinking activities like King's Cup from here on out, the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
However two other knucklehead party-goers, Nathan Knutty, 21, of Massillon, a University of Akron student, and Ryan Malecha, 19, of Litchfield Township haven't gotten off so easily. The pair was apprehended after videos of a car flipping began flooding Facebook, thus identifying the two perps to police. The men have been charged with riot and may face additional charges for the damages they inflicted to the vehicle.
University police told the ABJ that they will continue to monitor social media closely and increase off-campus patrols to prevent future "terrifying night[s] in lawless Akron."
-A.M.
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A rager in Akron with more than 1,000 attendees turned into chaos this weekend when drunken undergrads started throwing beer bottles and breaking shit up and down Sumner Street. Among other things, a sedan was tipped over on its roof.
According to the Beacon-Journal, when police responded, party goers started throwing bottles and festive debris at the officers, who soon had no recourse but to disperse the crowd with tear gas. Tear gas. You'd think it were Egypt.
No one was injured in the ensuing clusterfuck, and police are now diligently scraping social media for photos and video to assist in their investigations. Meantime, students have elected to dub the melee "Sumner Fest" — accidental cognate as ode to season? — to usher in the new school year.
One Akron man didn't view the party with fondness or glee. He took to Twitter, calling Saturday "another terrifying night in lawless Akron."
Police are beefing up their patrols over the next few weekends to ensure the raging continues at the appropriate decibels.
