SI Fireworks Fracas: Cops Vs. Residents

$2007_07_sifracas.jpg$ We briefly mentioned the wild melee between some Staten Island residents and the cops on July 4th, after the police investigated a call about illegal fireworks. Nineteen people had been arrested, while 10 others received summons, and residents are now complaining that the police were too aggressive. Cops, many of whom were injured, say they were doing their job.

The police do admit "an all-out brawl" occurred around 11PM, after a neighbor called to complain about fireworks being set off in the street. The police visited the home at 23 Fillmore three times, and on the third visit, with fireworks still going off, they tried to arrest the men setting them off. The police claim that 50-some people tried to block them from going in and started to assault them.

Nineteen-year-old Gabriele Scianna told the Daily News, "[The police] came in like animals. They were just coming in beating people with nightsticks." The Staten Island Advance has another account:

Inspector Richard Bruno, the commanding officer of the North Shore's 120th Precinct, tried to approach the alleged ringleader of the fracas, 50-year-old Gabriel Scianna, who lives at 23 Fillmore, cops said.

But Scianna slammed his front door on Bruno's leg, cutting his knee, and a few seconds later, according to police, several partygoers held up their fists and assumed fighting stances.

"Mr. Scianna had turned his block into a circa-1980s Howard Beach-type of environment. And our message is that, on the Fourth of July, that type of conduct will not be tolerated," Bruno said. He also suffered glass cuts of his elbow.

"Howard Beach" was a pointed reference to the fireworks spectaculars that Godfather John Gotti staged most years in Queens.

In 1991, federal authorities arrested Scianna, who lived in Brooklyn at the time, accusing him of being a member of a Colombo crime family death squad, Advance records show. Scianna pleaded guilty to a gun charge in 1992.

Oh, boy. One woman with Down Syndome who admitted to Newsday that she jumped a cop, said she was maced, handcuffed, and bruised by a cop, "They threw me on the floor and handcuffed me from behind -- and I was really upset." A police officer, though, said, "It was a donnybrook. They were all drunk."

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By Jen Chung in News on July 6, 2007 9:13 AM

Comments [rss]

torsion

donnybrook debacle

guest

Simply put, your right to blow stuff up ends where my right not to have my stuff blown up begins. Too many innocent bystanders have been hurt by fireworks in the NYC area because morons don't use them safely. There has been damage to other people's homes & cars because idiots don't know how to use fireworks properly. That's why the city had to crackdown, not to infringe upon your "rights".

There were numerous complaints from neighors according to news article & at least 2 neighbors who were willing to say in tv news reports that this family/gathering was out of control. The first police visit was at 7ish, the last at 10ish. My cousin lives in a rural area where fireworks are legal. His displays don't last a full hour. What right does this family have to impose 3 hours worth of heavy duty explosives on a neighborhood? Oh & Dad had 14 prior arrests. If I had 14 prior arrests, I'd try not doing illegal stuff so I wouldn't get a 15th arrest, but hey, that's just me.

guest

Another Saint Gotti Celebration that gets out of hand when the residents cannot understand the simple ramifications of 4 police visits that have happened because thier own neighbors are afraid that they are in some danger from the celebrants use of ILLEGAL fireworks.

I think in any other community there might be some sort of realization that there might be an arrest forthcoming......

guest

This can happen to each and every one of you folks out there one day. Remember this is the 4th of July. In most states this is legal. In previous years this has never happened. When the government offers people $ 1000 reward to call up on your neighbors shooting fireworks, this is the result. The after effect of this is I'm sure - home owners will be at odds with each other for who the "rat" was. The police have a right to give summons but arrest was not warranted. This was not about the law it was about police ego.

guest

The replay will be shown on Jerry Springer....

guest

Stupid f*in guidos! Since when does down's syndrome give one a free pass? They should've beat that bitch extra hard!

guest

Typical Staten Island mobsters and wannabes. This place has become a real cesspool.

guest

A am number 7 and I have never worn a tin foil hat, so go ahead and read my thoughts anytime. This anti assembly law has so far made the cops feel free to: shut down gay pridefest, arrest 30 high school kids in bushwick and now to lock up drunken fireworks enthusiasts in Staten Island plus more. Cyclists have so far only gotten tickets-- so you and 49 of your friends at the next bruhaha/melee/donnybrook/fracas are the next ones in cuffs-- unless you got wheels and experience to get away fast.

guest

two words: white trash

guest

Was Louie Devito spinning?

guest

sounds more like a fracas to me

guest

the link to the SILive has the names of those arrested and some are still in jail because SI does not have a night court. and, to think the mayor was just at SI for a 7/4 parade. guess theys his people.

surely he won't parade in Brownsville or East New York. (though there's still some Italians in ENY)

TKaisen

I'm a lot more concerned with the government illegally surveiling email and phone calls, or getting bogus secret search warrants, than I am about a law designed to bust the balls of Critical Mass douches.

Bullshit. Either be concerned with Constitutional rights or don't be. Freedom to assemble in the first amendment is as basic a right as Freedom from illegal searches in the fourth. Don't cherry-pick the amendments you want to pay attention to or you're as bad as anyone else who does it.

However, points for proper accenting of melee.

guest

ha check out the nypost photos.

guest

Also, the chick holding her top looks guidette-hot.

Outter Burrougher

Actually, #11, it was (past tense) an annual Irish fair, but was banned in 1855 (according to wikipedia) because of how raucous and insane it was.

Love the use of that word, kudos to the policeman who used it!

guest

#14 -- I'm a lot more concerned with the government illegally surveiling email and phone calls, or getting bogus secret search warrants, than I am about a law designed to bust the balls of Critical Mass douches.

And there were very likely 50 or more people at this mêlée, so that basically dismisses the claims that the NYPD is deliberately inflating the numbers of miscreants at this gathering.

guest

Donnybrook is a total cop word - my dad uses it frequently to describe brouhaha's.

Sounds like these morons got exactly what they deserved. Three warnings and then they attacked the cops just stupid.

And at 11pm most of those cops would have been an hour away from going off duty. The absolute last thing they'd want to do is get into a huge melee due to all the paperwork involved.