3 Madison teens arrested in melee
By Rachael Scarborough King, Register Staff
Dec. 21, 2007
NORTH BRANFORD — A shouting match involving about 120 attendees at a hockey game between Daniel Hand and Hamden high schools led to the arrest of three Madison teenagers Wednesday night, according to police.
Authorities said they threw about 25 people out of the game after the taunting and swearing at the Northford Ice Pavilion game escalated into a shoving fight between a few fans. Vincent Crisco, 18, and two 17-year-olds, all from Madison, were arrested, police said.
Crisco was charged with breach of peace, one of the juveniles was charged with breach of peace and interfering with or resisting arrest, and the third teen was charged with first-degree criminal trespass after he refused to leave the hockey rink, according to police. The 17-year-olds’ names were not released because of their age.
The fight occurred between fans in the stands arguing over the hockey game, Deputy Police Chief Michael Doody said Thursday. About 300 people were in attendance at the game, which Hamden won 4-0.
North Branford police called in North Haven officers because of the number of people involved in the fracas. One North Branford officer was hit in the back with a bottle, Doody said.
The Northford Ice Pavilion has been the site of several other police incidents involving hockey fans, players and coaches. In March, six people were arrested after a fight outside the facility. Two officials at a January game for 11- to 13-year-olds were also arrested after a brawl.
The police department in February announced a zero-tolerance policy for poor behavior at the rink, saying it would arrest people for crimes such as creating a public disturbance rather than just asking them to leave the building.
“Once in a while, you’ll get maybe one or two people you have to throw out, but (at the game this Wednesday) the Madison fans just got out of control,” Doody said.
Crisco and the two juveniles were released on a promise to appear Jan. 2 in Superior Court in New Haven.