Behind the Lines

By Jonathan Cook
Turley Publications Reporter

Monday, March 22

Four students summonsed for brawl

At 2:13 p.m., police received a call from an administrator at Tantasqua Regional Senior High School. Officer Hillary Dadalt responded to the scene and was told that a fight had begun with a verbal altercation between 18-year-old James A. Rouse of 21 South Road and a 16-year-old male at an ice cream social in the cafeteria.
Rouse allegedly cut gym class to attend the social. Then, according to the report, 18-year-old Sean Martin of 28 Over the Top Road, Holland entered the argument and flipped off the 16-year-old’s baseball cap.
The 16-year-old then retaliated by shoving Martin. At that time, the report states, 17-year-old Andrew Cloutier of 2 Joe Goddard Road, Brookfield, came to the 16-year-old’s defense and a fistfight ensued, according to the report. School officials, including Dean of Students Leigh Joseph and Technical Division Principal Tim Prouty, as well as English teacher Sean Cusik, history teacher Michael Metz, and math teacher Martin Drexhage, reportedly struggled to break up the fight.
For their effort at intervening, according to the report, both Joseph and Cusik were punched more than once.
Joseph was reportedly struck in the kidney and thigh by Cloutier. According to the report, Cloutier claimed his head was down and he did not know he was hitting the dean. Also, Martin allegedly punched Cusik in the lower back and arm.
After initially separating the parties, Martin got loose, according to the report, and went after the 16-year-old again.
All four students were issued summons on charges of disturbing a public assembly, assault and battery and affray.
Martin and Cloutier will face additional charges of assault on a public employee, two counts each. (6587)

Tuesday, March 23

Hit and run nets two arrests

At 10:34 p.m., police received a 911 call reporting a hit and run accident in the parking lot of Motel 6.
Officer Daniel Hemingway was dispatched to the scene where he took a witness statement, according to the report. A motel patron heard a loud bang in the parking lot and noted her car was no longer parked straight, the report states.
The witness then went outside and saw that the rear bumper had significant damage.
Officer Larry Bateman then located a vehicle with a warm grill and corresponding damage to the front bumper, including green paint that matched the car that was hit. The driver was located in his room and upon being asked why his car was damaged the driver reportedly admitted that he’d hit the other car.
It was noted that the driver, identified as 49-year-old Jeffrey Ramsdell of 54 Hazard Ave. Enfield, Conn., swayed on his feet from side to side and smelled strongly of alcohol. Ramsdell reportedly did not successfully complete a sobriety screening. He was therefore arrested on charges of OUI liquor and leaving the scene of property damage.
At the station he scored .13 on a breath test. Meanwhile, with Ramsdell police identified 24-year-old Zachary Ramsdell of 57 Dudley Hill Road, Dudley and arrested him on a warrant, according to the report. (6690 and 6692)
Wednesday, March 24
Student summonsed for huffing
At 12:32 p.m., police received a phone call from an administrator at Tantasqua Regional High School.
According to the report, 17-year-old student Peter Keen of 61 Main St., Wales was caught smoking marijuana near the gym door.
Officer John Paciorek responded to the scene and observed Keen’s eyes were bloodshot and his pupils dilated, according to the report. Paciorek also noted the smell of freshly burned marijuana.
According to the report, Keen was being examined in the nurse’s office at the time because he was found in possession of a can of office duster, a cleaning agent that will induce a high when inhaled, or huffed.
Keen was issued a town by-law citation for possession of marijuana. He was also summonsed on charges of inhaling a toxic substance. The office duster can was taken into evidence. (6737)