Westerly disturbance results in multiple arrests, as police investigate fight on social media

WESTERLY, R.I. (WLNE) — Westerly Police officers said a fight yesterday that resulted in multiple arrests on Pierce Street originated between 8 juvenile females.

Officers were dispatched Tuesday to the area to find approximately twenty people, some adults and some juveniles, standing on the sidewalk while some were walking away towards the parking lot of the rear Pierce St. apartments.

According to Police Chief Paul Gingerella, officers began to separate and try to calm the above participants, but no one was cooperative.

Many he said, began to push past the officers, refused lawful orders by the police and were subsequently arrested.

Mutual aid was requested from other departments to break up the fight.

The original fight between the females is still being investigated as more evidence is coming into the Westerly Police Department from social media.

Police said that cooperation has been limited.

“This behavior by both the ‘adults’ and the juveniles is not acceptable and does not represent the hard work that many families in the neighborhood along with the police department and many outside community-oriented agencies are trying to achieve to change the negative stigma of this area,” said Gingerella in the statement.

“I commend the actions of the members of this department as once the police were called, they were able to restore peace quickly and safely,” he said.

More arrests will be made, according to the Chief.