MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Charges have been filed against 11 people and more are expected in response to the “snow day riots” in Morgantown last month.
Police responded Feb. 1 to the scene of what appeared to be a large block party near what is commonly referred to as Frat Hill along Spruce Street.
According to a Morgantown Police release: Morgantown city employees were attempting to plow the street following heavy snow the previous day when police said members of the crowd began throwing beer bottles, liquor bottles, rocks, and other projectiles at officers and public works crews.
During the incident, a mattress was set on fire. Police used smoke cannisters to disperse the crowd.
The incident occurred in the third consecutive day of cancelled classes at WVU due to a combination of frigid and persistent subzero temperatures and snow.
Those charged included:
- Bauer Cipressi, 21, of Huntington, Maryland with open container and disorderly conduct
- Chad Harper of Brecksville, Ohio with open container and disorderly conduct
- Darius McKenzie, 20, of Vorhees, New Jersey, with malicious burning and disorderly conduct
- Dew Spearko of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania with open container and disorderly conduct
- Garret Wright, age and hometown unknown, is charged with malicious burning and disorderly conduct
- Joseph Boggs, 26, of Caldwell, West Virginia, is charged with open container
- John Kleissas of Wye Mills, Maryland is charged with disorderly conduct
- Kyle Canavan of Chesapeake, Virginia is charged with open container and disorderly conduct
- Samuel Cole of Springfield, Virginia is charged with disorderly conduct
- Tyler Kiskis of Pasadena, Maryland is charged with open container and disorderly conduct
- William Pierson of Charleston, West Virginia, is charged with throwing missiles and disorderly conduct
Eight of the 11 individuals charged reside at 617 North Spruce Street. That address is listed to the Sigma Nu fraternity house, according to a City of Morgantown spokesperson.
Members of the fraternity helped clean up in the days following the disturbance.
Additional individuals will be charged upon confirmation of their identities, according to Morgantown Police.