March 7, 2015
Media Briefing 2: 00 p.m.
The Town of Amherst, the Amherst Police Department, and the regional law enforcement partners’ report that the community is safe and the police have received cooperation throughout the day.
Police officers and apartment complex security have been staged at numerous locations throughout north and center Amherst and have been successful in discouraging large gatherings from forming in these Amherst neighborhoods. There are numerous small events throughout the town and none have caused substantial problems.
The objective by the Town of Amherst, its police department and regional partners remain to ensure the safety of the community, safety of first responders and protection of private property. Cooperation and respect has been widespread between community members and police officers in the neighborhoods. The Amherst Police Department has made one arrest of a 19-year-old male for being a minor in possession of alcohol and having an open container of alcohol. Amherst Fire reports transporting one individual from the Mullins Center to Cooley Dickinson Hospital.
Downtown Amherst shops and restaurants are open for business and there have been no calls for service to the downtown area.
The Amherst Police Department continues to monitor groups of pedestrians that are walking throughout north Amherst. Alcohol violations are not being observed and there have been no reports of property damage.
On the UMass Amherst campus, about 5,000 students are attending the concert at the Mullins Center. Officials at the arena report that the crowd has been orderly. Police made one arrest outside the Mullins Center for a domestic assault and another individual was placed in protective custody for alcohol intoxication. Emergency personnel have seen eight individuals in the triage area.
UMass Amherst police also made an arrest for disorderly conduct near Curry Hicks Cage around 10:20 a.m.
Buses are running on a normal schedule.
Contact: David Ziomek, Assistant Town Manager, Town of Amherst 413-259-3012
The next media advisory will be at 5:00 p.m. at the Amherst Police Department Community Room, 111 Main Street.