MILTON — A police officer was injured, and four people were arrested during a melee at an under-21 event early Monday morning at a Front Street night spot.
Police estimated that 50-60 people were involved in the late-night fracas. Two teens, who were subdued with a Taser and pepper spray, were taken to a hospital, where they were treated for their injuries and released, police said.
Detective Dan Embeck, of the Milton Police Department, said officers were called to Big Andy’s Bar and Grill at 14 S. Front St. around 1 a.m. after a fight broke out inside the club. By the time police arrived, he said, a full-fledged brawl was under way.
“It was like everyone was fighting with everyone else,” Embeck said.
Big Andy’s normally holds an over-16 under-21 event on Sunday nights, but while those at the establishment were under the legal age to drink alcoholic beverages, Embeck said the nearby municipal parking lot was littered with beer cans and bottles.
Kaleb Baney, a part-time officer, went into the club after he saw one of the club’s security personnel get punched in the back of the head, while two other officers, Eric Goodbrod and Greg Drollinger, began trying to restore order outside.
While trying to arrest an individual, Drollinger, a Watsontown officer, was set upon from behind by several youths who tried to pull him off. Goodbrod went to his aid and suffered an injury that Embeck said would keep him off work for several days.
Embeck said 50-60 people were involved in the fight. Officers called for assistance from Lewisburg and East Buffalo Township, but those officers were in Mifflinburg backing up officers there.
A call for all available officers to assist brought police from Sunbury, Shamokin Dam and Muncy as well as state troopers from the Milton, Selinsgrove and Stonington stations, as well as several off-duty Milton officers. Embeck estimated 15-20 officers were at the scene.
As additional police began to arrive, people left.
Police did arrest four people, Embeck said, all from the Williamsport area. They were an adult and three juveniles.
This was the second incident this year at Big Andy’s. During the spring, 76 Bucknell University students were arrested for underage drinking, but many of their cases were dismissed by a district judge because arresting officers did not follow proper procedures during the arrests.
Gregory Horvat, a supervisor at the Bureau of Liquor Enforcement in Harrisburg, said liquor enforcement officers could cite Big Andy’s for disorderly operation if it is determined that underage drinking was taking place.
“An establishment must conform with regulations of the Liquor Control Board and obey all other laws of the commonwealth,” Horvat said.
Horvat said the threshold for sanctioning a bar as a nuisance bar is quite high.
A nuisance bar is defined as one “that brings the surrounding community down,” he explained.
Excessive noise, litter and similar behavior contributes to the determination. Input from local police, community leaders and testimony from liquor control agents are part of the determination.
Eventually, Horvat said, the district attorney would become involved and official hearings would be held.
“It’s a fairly big hurdle to cross,” he said.
Andy Kessler, owner of Big Andy’s could not be reached for comment Monday.
News
50 to 60 involved in underage bar brawl
Officer hurt in melee
- News
-
-
A 122% savings
Leigh Levandoski could have spent $189.50 on the big, thick textbook she needs for a business class this semester at Susquehanna University. But the senior from Wilkes-Barre went the way many college students go lately, and saved big; renting the textbook cost the 21-year-old just $85.28.
-
City has $1.2M to play with
Low initial bids — about $1.2 million less than expected — may allow for extras in the city’s riverfront project.
-
Old Elks has new owner
A room or two of the former Danville Elks building could be open as a museum as early as next summer.
-
Valley pastors, atheist: Don’t burn Quran
A Florida minister’s plans to burn copies of the Quran on Saturday to mark the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks illustrate how the United States, as a nation, is struggling to make sense of what happened.
-
Greener’ firm picked to handle recyclables
Union County is taking a more conscientious approach during its annual fall recycling this year.
-
Horse racers’ purse hits $150G
Gambling revenue from Pennsylvania slots will help boost purses and attract more harness racing competitors for the Bloomsburg Fair, a fair spokesman said Wednesday.
-
Jews set goals as new year begins
At sunset Wednesday, Jewish residents in the Valley — and around the world — marked the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year of 5,771.
-
County worker runs in 108th
A Green Party candidate for the 108th Legislative District seat is pushing for a 30-hour work week and a lower retirement age and says she will offer to hire one of her opponents if she wins.
-
Warden: ‘Superbug’ scare just manipulation
The brouhaha over the alleged MRSA outbreak inside the Northumberland County Prison is an attempt at financial gain by some inmates, Warden Roy Johnson said Wednesday.
-
Ed Rendell says 'Wackos' are taking over the Republican Party
PHILADELPHIA — Pennsylvania's Democratic governor says that "wackos" are taking over the Republican Party in Congress. Gov. Ed Rendell made his observation today as he introduced Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine at an event in Philadelphia to rally Democrats for the November midterm elections.
- More News Headlines
-
