Police say gang grudges might have set off a riot Sunday that shut down Havre de Grace?s celebration of Independence Day and required more than 60 police officers to quell.
“There were several people there suspected to be involved in gangs,” said Bob Thomas, a spokesman for the Harford County Sheriff?s Office. “The genesis of the civil disturbance may have been related to gang members.”
Some were wearing gang colors, he said, but he declined to say which gangs they were associated with.
Police from agencies around the region were called in Sunday night to subdue a crowd of teens and young adults who started brawls scattered throughout the carnival and Independence Day festivities. Two officers were injured during the struggle.
The presence of gang members openly displaying their affiliation may lead to some reconsideration of security at the annual carnival and fireworks show, Thomas said.
The committee of private citizens organizing the event will likely meet with city and county officials to compare reports on the incident and determine how to respond in the future, said City Council President Frederick Cullum.
“Over the years, there?s always been some problems, but not to the extent that we had this year,” Cullum said. The increasing presence of gangs in the county ? and now at public events ? will require more attention, he said.
“That?s an element we need to put a stop to before it gets a good start … before it gets a foothold in the city.”
Carolyn Norvell, coordinator of events for Havre de Grace Independence Celebration Inc., said the brawling teenagers were a small element of the large crowd, but that her committee would work to ensure that there would not be a repeat next year.
Police have not been able to say how many brawlers were involved. “Was the carnival gang-infested? Certainly not,” Norvell said. “As far as our community is concerned, this handful of people threatens more than just our carnival. You get what you tolerate … and we don?t intend to tolerate this.”
