Re: Large Disturbance/Officer injured
Early this morning about 3:15 AM,
The MPD received several 911 calls for a large group of about 25 people yelling
and screaming on Strathmore Rd. Officer
Earnshaw and K. Pilz were the first officers on the scene and he observed a
crowd of between 30 – 40 people. As they exited the cruiser they heard several people screaming, yelling and being extremely
loud. They attempted to disperse the large crowd which was made of largely non
area residents. Most began walking down Strathmore Rd or getting into parked
M/V’s. Further up on Strathmore Rd the officers observed one female who they asked
to leave the area. Officer Earnshaw stated that she began to leave when another
female (later identified as Ms. Kim Almonte) began holding her and would not
allow her to leave. Shortly thereafter an altercation began. All Parties were
screaming and yelling obscenities and refusing to disperse. A crowd then began
to form around Ms. Almonte in attempts to get her to leave. At this time she
still refused to leave. Officer Earnshaw attempted to place her in custody. At
this time Ms. Almonte pushed Officer Earnshaw with both hands in the chest and
then fell to
the ground. She continued to fight and resist being arrested. This further
exasperated the situation.
The crowd became
extremely upset and began yelling at and circling Officers. As they were
attempting to gain control of Ms. Almonte another female later identified as
Ms. Stephanie Ortiz came up behind Officer Earnshaw and grabbed him in the
chest area and his microphone for his radio. She refused several orders to let
go. Officer Earnshaw then attempted to place her under arrest and she pulled
away. At this time Ms. Ortiz grabbed the back of his duty belt approx. 3 inches
from his firearm. While he was handcuffing Ms. Ortiz he was struck several
times in the head by someone in the crowd.
At this time the Officers felt they were in imminent fear of being harmed by the
reaming unruly crowd. At this time they requested backup units to respond and
all working officers were dispatched. As
the crowd grew more angry and confrontational mutual aid from Lawrence PD and MA.
State Police were requested .
During this struggle
a resident notified the police dispatch that there was an Officer down. This
Officer was later identified as Officer Earnshaw. As Officer Earnshaw was handcuffing Ms. Ortiz
a
male subject (later identified as Mr. Melvin Gomez) came up behind him and grabbed
him with both hands putting him in a “full nelson type hold”. He then proceeded
to slam Officer Earnshaw head first into the pavement. This caused injury to
Officer Earnshaw which later required treatment at the hospital.
During this
altercation the officers were surrounded by the hostile group Officers were
trying to push the crowd back and received major resistance. Other officers attempted to get Mr. Gomez off
of Officer Earnshaw and were unable to gain control of him. Mr. Gomez eventual broke free took to his
feet and started throwing punches towards Officer Pilz. Officer Pilz then took
Mr.
Gomez to the ground and attempted to gain control of his hands. Mr. Ortiz continued
to fight throwing elbows and punches. He
was eventual subdued and placed under arrest.
During the altercation a male subject (later identified as Mr. Joel Ynfante)
tried to jump on Officer
Pilz and Officer Moore while they were effecting the arrest of Officer Gomez.
Officer Moore
struggled with Mr. Ynfante and was able to place him under arrest.
A Mr. Joel Sosa attempted
to intervene and free Mr. Gomez while he fought with the officers. After numerous orders to stay away which he refused
to heed he began to fight with the officers and was arrested. During these altercations members of the
unruly crowd were pushing and shoving the officers. Officers observed all
parties involved appeared to be intoxicated causing this entire incident to be
extremely volatile. There were between 20 and 30 people yelling, screaming and
circling around Officer’s. These subjects were throwing and smashing bottles
all over the street.
Arrested and charged:
Ms. Almonte, assault and battery on a police officer, being a disorderly person
and resisting arrest.
Mr. Gomez, obstructing
justice, disturbing the peace, resisting arrest, 2 counts of assault and
battery on a police officer and being a disorderly person.
Ms. Ortiz, being a
disorderly person and obstructing justice.
Mr. Ynfante, disturbing
the peace, resisting arrest and being a disorderly person.
Mr. Sosa, disturbing
the peace, resisting arrest and being a disorderly person.