At approximately 2:57 p.m. on February 1, 2019 officers of the Morgantown Police Department responded to a request for assistance from West Virginia University Police on North Spruce Street, in the “Cooperative Zone” near the campus of West Virginia University. A large crowd had gathered and was consuming alcohol openly, sledding, snowboarding and blocking the roadway. The crowd had been ordered to move from the street by University Officials so that the roadway could be treated.
The City of Morgantown Public Works Department could not run the snow plows or treat the streets in the area commonly referred to as “Frat Hill”. Officers of the Morgantown Police Department attempted to escort the plow down the street in order to clear the street of pedestrians. While attempting to plow the street, members of the crowd and people that congregated on the porches began throwing beer bottles, liquor bottles, rocks and other projectiles at the officers and the public works crews.
Staff of the Morgantown Police Department reviewed all the body camera footage, statements and surveillance video of the incident. The Morgantown Police Department, working in conjunction with the WVU Police Department, has identified primary offenders in the incident.
The following list of individuals are those that have been identified and warrants have been obtained for their arrest:
Bauer CIPRESSI, 21 years of age of 617 North Spruce Street/Huntington, Maryland is charged with open container and disorderly conduct and is pending arraignment.
Chad HARPER – of 617 North Spruce Street/Brecksville, Ohio is charged with open container and disorderly conduct and is pending arraignment.
Darius MCKENZIE, 20 years of age of Voorhees, New Jersey is charged with malicious burning and disorderly conduct and is pending arrest.
Dew SPEARKO –of 617 North Spruce Street/Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is charged with open container and disorderly conduct and is pending arraignment.
Garret WRIGHT – of 617 North Spruce Street is charged with malicious burning and disorderly conduct and is pending arraignment.
Joseph BOGGS – 26 years of age of Caldwell, West Virginia is charged with open container and is pending arrest.
John KLEISSAS – of 617 North Spruce Street/Wye Mills, Maryland is charged with disorderly conduct and is pending arraignment.
Kyle CANAVAN – of 617 North Spruce Street/Chesapeake, Virginia is charged with open container and disorderly conduct and is pending arraignment.
Samuel COLE – of 617 North Spruce Street/Springfield, Virginia is charged with disorderly conduct and is pending arraignment.
Tyler KISKIS – of 617 North Spruce Street/Pasadena, Maryland is charged with open container and disorderly conduct and is pending arraignment
William PIERSON – of 650 North Spruce Street/Charleston, West Virginia is charged with throwing missiles and disorderly conduct and is pending arraignment.
Additional individuals will be charged upon confirmation of their identities.