50+ Arrested, Bottles and Cans Thrown at Police at Bridgewater State University ‘Springfest'

Police are asking for photos or video that may identify people throwing bottles and cans at officers

Police arrested more than 50 people over the weekend as festivities at Bridgewater State University's "Springfest" spun wildly out of control.

Shocking viewer video from Saturday shows some students getting out of control.

Police arrested more than 50 people over the weekend as festivities at Bridgewater State University’s “Springfest” spun wildly out of control this past weekend.

"It's usually very large house parties, large gathering, a lot of disturbance calls, underage drinking," said Bridgewater Police Lt. Tom Schlatz.

Amanda Frye was visiting friends here and took this video because she was so surprised by what some students were doing.

"People were hanging out the windows, just shotgunning beers on the roofs of houses," she said. "It's shocking to me because it's like, you're so stupid. I'm sorry for saying it, but you're going to hurt yourself."

More than 50 people were arrested between town and campus police.

A quick look at the Bridgewater Police Twitter feed shows numerous references to public drunkenness, fights and even someone reporting the theft of 16 alcoholic beverages.

During one of the arrests on Burrill Avenue, the crowd became so hostile, police took to Twitter to try to identify some of the people involved in breaking the law.

"One of the parties had fled, one of our officers chased him several houses down and he chased him into a large crowd into another house party," said Schlatz. "As he was attempting to apprehend him, several beer cans were thrown at him."

The officer was not injured, but the incident occurred just two doors down from where a female student was pushed off a garage roof during a party last August.

Police say they have and will use video and photos posted to social media to try to track these offenders down.

"It makes sense because a lot of kids use social media and stuff like that," said junior Sydney Quirk.

"If people are going to post it online then it's like there for everybody, so the police can use it just like anyone else can use it," said junior Ethan Fisher.

"Springfest" is a university-sponsored, alcohol-free event that was supposed to have ended on Friday. But school officials told The Enterprise that students have "hijacked" the term, holding raucous alcohol-fueled parties. Last year, 53 people were reportedly arrested.

Bridgewater Police are now asking for any photos or video that may identify people throwing bottles and cans at officers on Saturday.

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