UConn Title Revelry Leads To 16 Campus Arrests And 16 Hospital Visits

STORRS, CT — Tuesday classes went on as scheduled at the University of Connecticut, but it wasn't after some nighttime mayhem Monday night as the UConn men won their fifth basketball national title.

UConn officials were quick to say that "The vast majority of those celebrating the Husky victory last night did so safely and responsibly," but did add, "A small number chose to risk their safety and that of others by vandalizing or destroying property after the game."

UConn spokeswoman Stephanie Reitz said postgame vandalism primarily consisted of broken light poles in the center of campus, broken glass in windows in some nearby buildings and a Student Union door, a vehicle turned on its side, and fires set in trash dumpsters and on wooden benches.

"UConn police continue to investigate the vandalism and other potential criminal offenses that occurred. Those responsible will face arrest and, if they are students, sanctions up to and including expulsion," she said.

In all, 15 people were arrested by UConn police and charged with various crimes, Reitz said. Most of those arrested are UConn students.

The two most serious offenses involved homemade pyrotechnics and a flipped over UConn Facilities Operations Department van, arrest reports show. A 19-year-old woman from Trumbull was charged with reckless burning after she began spinning around while holding two "propellent cans" that were lit on fire, according to an arrest report.

Two 20-year-old men — one from New Hartford and another from Howard Beach, NY, were charged with first-degree rioting in the van-flipping incident, arrest reports indicate.

A total of 16 people were transported to area hospitals with various injuries, and not one was being considered "significant," she said.

UConn Facilities Operations crews were on campus overnight and into Tuesday morning to document and clean up the damage., Reitz said. The damage estimates are still being determined, she added.

There were no delays with classes or any other "academic operations," Reitz said.

State police from the Troop C barracks said they were called to assist in the area seven minutes after the Huskies beat San Diego state 76-59. As students left the Gampel Pavilion viewing party, they not only celebrated on campus, but spilled onto Mansfield streets and to off-campus parties.

As of 3 p.m. there were no off-campus arrests, according to Troop C. There was, however, some vandalism as well as a few fisticuffs that did not result in any serious injuries, state police said.

State police said the damage was not as widespread at the 2014 celebration.