SALEM — When two arrests were made following two separate gatherings involving Salem State University students this past weekend it validated months of concerns from Salem Police about what could happen when school resumed this fall.
“Obviously, we’ve been concerned about it for months with everything going on, (in terms of) whether school is going to open up in our own city,” said Salem Police Capt. Frederick Ryan. “It’s been a huge issue and we’ve been monitoring it closely.”
Salem Police responded to two unrelated incidents last Friday night involving gatherings where some SSU students were present in violation of current public-health guidelines, according to a joint statement from Mayor Kim Driscoll and SSU President John Keenan.
The statement said that in addition to violating rules regarding large gatherings, there was also conduct involved in both incidents that led to arrests.
In the first incident, police broke up a gathering of more than 50 people at an apartment on Becket Street, which resulted in the arrest of an individual for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, the statement said.
Although the statement said the person arrested was not a SSU student, Ryan said the person did reside at the 10 Becket St. apartment.
The party, which was attended by 60 to 100 people, only three of whom were seen wearing masks, was held at the same residence that had hosted a number of smaller gatherings that prompted nine other responses from police since July 4, Ryan said.
Things had been escalating over the past week or so at the residence, Ryan said, which culminated with a party from Friday night into Saturday that was much too loud. All past gatherings at the off-campus apartment, including the one held last Friday, have involved college students who live in the area, he said.
“The property owner will be cited by the Salem Police Department for keeping a disorderly house,” said the joint statement from Driscoll and Keenan. “Additionally, as the gathering violated public-health orders, those in attendance who can be identified will be issued citations from Salem public health officials.
“Any current Salem State students who are identified as having attended the gathering will also face additional disciplinary consequences from the university.”
All individuals who attended the party have been advised by the mayor and university’s president to get a free COVID-19 test, either through SSU if they are university students, or through the city’s free “Stop the Spread” testing at Salem High School.
In the second incident, a SSU student was arrested and charged with burning personal property, vandalism and destruction of property over $1,200 in connection with damage that was done to the playground equipment at Pickman Park during what the university said was another gathering, according to the statement.
The university’s campus police were informed of the incident by two Salem State students, who then informed the Salem Police Department, which made the arrest. The investigation and identification of other people present, as well as their involvement, is ongoing, the statement said.
Prior to Friday’s incidents, Ryan said police have broken up smaller gatherings that have involved SSU students, but nothing to the extent of what was seen over the weekend.
In early September, Salem Police started doing random joint patrols with SSU police officers, which involved responding to parties that were held in areas where students are known to live and advising them on the COVID-19 restrictions that are in place. For example, no more than 10 people can be in a house or apartment at any given time and parties are discouraged, Ryan said.
SSU also sent out information to students before they arrived at school, informing them about what could result in disciplinary action, Ryan said, noting that all incidents that Salem Police responded to that involved student infractions have been forwarded to campus police, who then follow up with those students.
If there are gatherings, the property owner and residents are issued a disorderly-house notification, and the property owner would normally be cited. A first offense results in a $200 fine, followed by $250 and $300 fines for second and third offenses. If there continues to be a lack of compliance, the landlord would be summoned to court, Ryan said.
Current and former students don’t think that last Friday’s incidents will be the last parties seen this semester, especially as we get closer to Halloween, which is a signature holiday in Salem.
“Sometimes parties are inevitable,” said SSU grad Josh Zwiercan, 22. “But now we need to use a different kind of caution.”
Salem State senior Alexander Rossetti added, “We need to remember that the pandemic isn’t over.
“SSU isn’t a party school by any means, but things get pretty crazy in October in Salem. I’m positive this won’t be the last gathering of 50-plus people.”
Driscoll and Keenan said they had issued their joint statement to keep community members informed and assure residents that the city and university leaders take the public-health concerns raised by both incidents seriously.
“Those responsible in both instances will be held accountable to the greatest extent possible under the law and under the university’s disciplinary policies,” the statement said. “We believe it is important that city and university officials work together to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in our community.”
