Julie Manganis and Tom Dalton
SALEM — Two police officers were injured early yesterday morning as they attempted to arrest unruly patrons who were disobeying orders to move along after closing hours at downtown bars.
Patrolman Larry Puleo was punched in the face by one man and kicked by another during a scuffle at the intersection of Washington and Essex streets. He suffered a wrist injury and will be out of work several days, police said.
Patrolman Kevin St. Pierre ran after the man who punched Puleo and had to wrestle him to the ground in Barton Square. The officer injured a hand during the fight, police said.
Meanwhile, minutes later, another officer went to the aid of a 25-year-old Marblehead man who was laid out on the sidewalk on Washington Street after being punched in the face.
This melee was only the latest incident following Thursday night closing hours, when bars are packed with crowds of young drinkers.
“We’ve got a problem downtown,” Lt. Conrad Prosniewski said.
Yesterday, four men were arraigned in District Court on charges of disorderly conduct and failing to disperse. Two are also facing more serious charges of assault and battery on a police officer and resisting arrest.
Just after 1 a.m., police were sent to Town House Square and Lappin Park to break up crowds of young people who had spilled out of the bars and were milling about.
When Puleo approached Christopher Burke, 21, of 11 Banks Road, Swampscott, Burke laughed at the officer, then pantomimed running away slowly but did not leave, according to a police report.
The officer again asked Burke to move, and when Burke continued to ignore him, Puleo tried to arrest him. Police say Burke resisted being cuffed, kicking Puleo and twisting the officer’s wrist while swearing at him.
Puleo suffered a sprained wrist and will be off-duty for several days, police said.
Meanwhile, Sgt. Kate Stephens came to assist Puleo and told some of Burke’s friends to leave. Michael Wermuth, 21, of 73 Mostyn St., Swampscott, allegedly punched Puleo in the face and then ran down Essex Street toward Summer Street. Patrolman St. Pierre caught up with Wermuth, wrestled him to the ground and also suffered a wrist injury as he tried to handcuff him.
Travis Markarian, 21, of 22 Nason Road, Swampscott, was also arrested on charges of failing to disperse and disorderly conduct when he refused to leave the area.
A fourth man, Thomas Matson, 25, of 202 Rantoul St., Beverly, was charged with failing to disperse and disorderly conduct after police asked him to stop videotaping the arrests, and he refused.
Matson said in court yesterday that he was not with the other three men and just saw what was happening. He also told Judge Richard Mori that before he was arrested he tossed his camera to a friend.
All four men pleaded not guilty to the charges and were released on their own recognizance, with an order to return to court Nov. 13 for a pretrial hearing.
Police said they have been dealing with unruly crowds outside downtown bars for several weeks, arresting patrons for fighting and failing to leave the area.
“There are quite a few drinking establishments in a small area downtown, and they draw quite a crowd,” Prosniewski said. “We have a history of problems with people leaving the establishments inebriated and failing to disperse. ...
“When you get a bunch of rowdy kids ... it becomes a riotous atmosphere,” he said. “You run across these hooligan types who will fight with police for whatever reasons. They’re drunk and showing off to friends.”
