Boozing, Brawling New Year's Eve Party Leads To Charges In Vernon

VERNON, CT — A New Year's Eve party at a Vernon apartment complex turned into a brawl that left one man facing drug charges and another accused of providing alcohol to minors and assaulting a friend and a police officer.

According to an arrest report, at 9:33 p.m., Vernon police were dispatched to the Loom City Lofts apartment complex at 215 East Main St. after receiving a complaint about screaming and banging sounds coming from a second-floor dwelling.

When officers arrived, they encountered 45-year-old Anthony Provencal; his roommate, 74-year-old Larry Roberson; and two "juvenile females," and all seemed intoxicated, according to an arrest report. Officers attempted to break up the argument, but one of the girls immediately became combative and was placed in handcuffs, according to an arrest report. Provencal made a move toward the handcuffed girl and then hit an officer in the face, but he, too, was handcuffed, according to an arrest report.

The handcuffed girl was transported to Rockville General Hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the altercation and another refused medical treatment and was picked up by a guardian, according to an arrest report.

Police said an investigation revealed that Provencal had pinned Roberson on a bed during the brawl. He also supplied alcohol to the girls, according to an arrest report. Roberson had crack cocaine on him and several glass pipes were seen in the apartment, according to an arrest report.

Provencal was charged with second-degree unlawful restraint, assault on a public safety officer, interfering with police, permitting a minor to possess alcohol and disorderly conduct.

He was held over the weekend on a $75,000 bond and was to appear in Rockville Superior Court Tuesday, along with Roberson, who was charged with possession of a controlled substance and the use of drug paraphernalia. He was also charged with failure to appear in court on an active warrant.