Three URI students arrested after Super Bowl celebrations

February 4, 2019 3:21 pm

KINGSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — Patriots fans across New England celebrating the big win last night. But at URI, the revelry got a little out of hand. Two thousand students Flooded the campus causing some major damage.

University police were expecting this. New England sports teams win a lot so they’ve been through this before but they are taking this pretty seriously. There’s at least $1,000 worth of damage on campus.

Thousands of students causing chaos at URI, celebrating the Pats win by lighting things on fire.

“I see a kid with a piece of cardboard and a lighter so immediately I know that’s not a good sign. Comes over here just tosses it in, starts throwing these trash cans in next thing you know the whole thing just goes up in flames,” says Michael Sicilian.

“The fire was getting so big I thought this tree was going to catch on fire. My dorm is right there, I thought my whole building was going to catch on fire,” adds Mason Belcher.

Five dumpsters in all, all over campus. In the light of day the plastic is melted and ashes are all over. Students heading to class after what they say was just some good old fun.

“Brady won his sixth win, like anything goes honestly,” says Patrick Douglas.

“There was lots of cheering. People jumped in the pond I think, just a lot of loud noises, sirens eventually the police,” says Curtis Tessier.

University police, along with local and state police, watched from their emergency operations center on campus, fully expecting trouble regardless of the game’s outcome. Three students were arrested, 2 for starting a fire and the other for disorderly conduct. More arrests could be coming.

“Our job is to keep everyone safe, no one got hurt, fortunately, last night so I think we did our job but we would like to follow through and get the people who started these fires,” says Chief of campus police Stephen Baker.

“Overall it was a little extreme but you know, just kids want to have fun,” says Belcher.

Two of those students faced a judge today and they could also face consequences at school. Punishments range anywhere from a written notice to suspension.