MORGANTOWN —
Eleven people, 10 of them WVU students, are facing charges as a result of the Feb. 1 riot on Spruce Street during a WVU snow day.
Five people are charged with open container and disorderly conduct, according to a Morgantown Police Department press release on Wednesday.
They are: Bauer Cipressi, 21, of Huntington, Maryland; Chad Harper, of Brecksville, Ohio; Dew Spearko, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Kyle Canavan, of Chesapeake, Virginia; Tyler Kiskis, of Pasadena, Maryland.
All five are awaiting arraignment, the release said.
Darius McKenzie, 20, of Voorhees, New Jersey, is charged with malicious burning and disorderly conduct. He has not yet been arrested, the release said.
Garret Wright is charged with malicious burning and disorderly conduct. John Kleissas, of Wye Mills, Maryland, is charged with disorderly conduct as is Samuel Cole, of Springfield, Virginia. All three are waiting to be arraigned, the release said.
Joseph Boggs, 26, of Caldwell, is charged with disorderly conduct and has not been arrested.
William Pierson, of Charleston, West Virginia, is charged with throwing missiles and disorderly conduct. He is waiting to be arraigned, the release said.
Wright, Kleissas, Kiskis, Cipressi, Harper, Canavan, Cole and Spearko all have a listed Morgantown address of 617 Spruce St., the Sigma Nu fraternity house.
The release said more charges are expected after identities are confirmed.
Everyone charged so far except Boggs is a registered WVU student, April Kaull, WVU Spokesperson, said. The students could face additional discipline under the WVU Student Conduct Code once the criminal charges are resolved, she said.
The incident occurred about 3 p.m. after WVU Police requested assistance on Spruce Street, the release said. A large crowd was drinking, sledding, snowboarding and blocking the road. The crowd refused to move, the release stated.
MPD officers attempted to escort a snow plow down the blocked street, but people on porches threw beer and liquor bottles, rocks and other items, the release said.
The crowd was eventually dispersed with a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) and two smoke grenades. Pepper balls were fired after students started throwing things, MPD Chief Ed Preston previously said.
Charges are based on a review of body camera footage, statements, and surveillance video footage, the release said. WVU police helped identify offenders, it said.
“It is unfortunate that the behavior on Spruce Street a month ago has resulted in these charges but interfering with law enforcement officers cannot be taken lightly,” Kaull said. “Sadly, what began as a snow carnival became dangerous, requiring officers to step in. The order to disperse was met with objects being thrown, endangering both officers and individuals, which led to Morgantown Police using pepper balls and smoke grenades.”
