Athens police Chief Richard Mayer said he blames irresponsible behavior by college students for a number of weekend incidents that required police attention.
Athens police faced extra concerns early Saturday morning as Ohio University students in the Mill Street area celebrated the school's Friday night football victory by throwing parties and setting a couch on fire in the middle of the street.
I don't consider starting fires in the street a celebration
Mayer said.
Athens firefighters extinguished the couch fire, which occurred in front of 71 N. High St., and OUPD officers aided two officers on horseback in patrolling the area until about 2 a.m.
Four people were arrested on charges of underage consumption of alcohol and disorderly conduct on the night.
Mayer declined to comment on whether police presence would be increased following other home football games this year. He said the best way to avoid a similar situation in the future is for students to take responsibility for their actions.
Parties in the Mill Street area caused problems again Saturday night and Sunday morning.
Police issued a noise violation to the residents of 9 Hocking St. about 11 p.m. Saturday for a party that featured a live band, but the crowd continued to be unruly. Party attendees blocking the street surrounded and threw beer at officers, according to a police report.
Police also found that a tire on their police cruiser had been slashed with a knife.
No arrests were made in connection with the tire incident, and only one arrest was made in connection with the unruly crowd.
The residents of 9 Hocking St. could not be reached for comment.
Early Sunday morning, firefighters put out another fire in front of 3 Palmer St., but no details of that fire were released. Two people near the site of the fire were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct for remaining in the street after they were told to leave.
In total, 11 people were arrested Saturday night and Sunday morning on various charges including underage consumption of alcohol and criminal mischief.
Rumors claiming that police used tear gas to disperse crowds on either night are false, Mayer said.
The only major injury reported was by mounted officer Neal Dicken, who was taken to O'Bleness Memorial Hospital and later transported to Grant Medical Center, in Columbus, where he received emergency surgery for a wrist injury. Dicken was on patrol on Palmer Street when his horse slipped on gravel and pavement and fell on top of him.
-Kantele Franko 17
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Kantele Franko
