Warning: Video contains expletives and graphic content.
ALBANY, N.Y. - Police in Albany arrested two people on Saturday following a
fight that happened near the city's St. Patrick's Day parade.
Police say around 4 p.m. Saturday officers assigned to parade security
observed a fight in the area of Washington Avenue and Swan Street.
As officers were dispersing the crowd, 18-year-old Clint Junco, of Delmar,
allegedly lunged at an on-duty police officer and hit him in the face with a
closed fist. Junco was arrested and charged with Disorderly Conduct, Resisting
Arrest, and Assaulting an Officer.
Officers also arrested 17-year-old Najee Bennett, of Bethlehem, for
Disorderly Conduct for engaging in tumultuous behavior.
Police say the fight occurred after the parade had concluded and the crowd
was quickly dispersed.
"We had officers
assigned to every block of the parade route, so you could only be a few hundred
yards away from a cop at any given time," says Albany Police Chief Steven
Krokoff.
Krokoff says while this incident is
reminiscent of the "kegs and eggs" riot involving UAlbany students in
2011, they are not on the same level. Krokoff says one similarity is both
incidents have no connection to the St. Patrick's Day parade.
"Whenever you add alcohol, impulse and
immaturity together, you have those types of situations," says
Krokoff. "Fortunately, we don't see that by and large through the
larger group. People come, they enjoy the parade with their families and
then they go home."
Chief Krokoff says he is thankful the
incident was recorded on a cell phone.
"It's
a great opportunity for juries to get a feel for exactly what went on,"
says Krokoff. "It gave a good understanding of what happened
when you go back to the situation in Pine Hills and an idea of the kind of
nonsense we deal with with the kids that come from outside of town and decide
they're going to cause havoc in the city of Albany for a day."
Clint Junco (Photo: Albany Police Dept.)
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