JONESBORO — Jonesboro police arrested eight people after a melee at an impromptu Barack Obama victory celebration near the campus of Arkansas State University. Three police officers suffered minor injuries.
Police Capt. Lynn Waterworth said one officer had her nose broken when a man jumped on top of her and punched her without provocation.
The celebration saw about 200 people gather at an apartment complex about a block away from campus at 10:45 p.m. Tuesday, Waterworth said. An off-duty officer moonlighting as a security guard for the apartment complex asked those who had gathered to go home, then called for additional help, she said.
Two on-duty officers arrived at the apartment complex, with one officer calling to the crowd over her cruiser's public-address system, Waterworth said. Some in the crowd responded by throwing rocks and beer bottles at police, with one man attacking the officer, Waterworth said.
A distress call summoned more than 40 police officers from surrounding departments and the Arkansas State Police, Waterworth said. One officer suffered a cut to the forehead trying to pull the man off of the female officer and another fell to the ground during the scuffle, she said.
"What should have been a happy, celebratory time turned into a bad experience for a lot of folks out there at the hands of a few," Waterworth said.
Those arrested include Jeffrey Boyd, 21, Jonathan Burns, 19, Clifford Criswell, 19, Seneca Hart, 23, Donte Jones, 19, Kevin Jones, 22 and Kiano Prater, 19. Criswell, Hart and both Joneses all face charges of inciting a riot and remain in jail in lieu of $2,500 bond. Prater, with bond also set at $2,500, faces charges of aggravated assault and refusal to submit to arrest.
Boyd is being held on a battery charge, Waterworth said. Burns faces misdemeanor charges and has been released from jail.
The Arkansas State football roster includes players with the names Kevin Jones and Kiano Prater, whose ages match the two men arrested. Coach Steve Roberts said Wednesday he didn't have enough information to comment on the matter.