MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University fullback Elijah Wellman was among the more than 24 people cited in connection with Saturday’s late-night riots that followed the Mountaineers’ upset of Baylor, according to Morgantown police.
A redshirt freshman from Huntington, the 20-year-old Wellman received a citation for disorderly conduct.
In addition to those cited, eight people were arrested after crowds set more than 30 fires across the the city, pushed down lightposts on High Street and hurled rocks, beer bottles and other objects at public safety personnel and their vehicles. Police said several construction sites were breached after the crowds destroyed fencing.
The arrest list could get longer.
On Wednesday morning, Morgantown Police Chief Ed Preston said 20 others had been identified through social media posts and tips from the public as possibly being involved in criminal activities.
“We’re not just going to charge somebody just because somebody said it happened. We’ve still got to be able to prove it,” Preston said. “That’s the process that we’re going through right now is being able to prove those charges.”
Those arrested during the fracas:
• Sean Flynn, 18: Underage Consumption, Littering, Throwing Missiles and Assault on a Police Officer
• David Levendakes, 21: Malicious Burning, Disorderly Conduct and Public Intoxication
• Dylan Delury, 19: Disorderly Conduct, Public Intoxication
• Dustin Johnson, 21: Destruction of Property, Possession of Marijuana and Obstructing/Fleeing
• Casey Knox, 26: Public Intoxication, Disorderly Conduct and Obstructing
• Jae Parks, 20: Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer (Deputy), Obstructing, Underage Consumption, Disorderly Conduct and Public Intoxication
• Peter Davey, 19: Obstructing, Underage Possession/Consumption, Disorderly Conduct and Public Intoxication
• Jason Thomas, 18: Underage Consumption, Public Intoxication and Disorderly Conduct
In a statement Tuesday, WVU president Gordon Gee said administrators were examining arrest records, surveillance videos and social media posts to identify students involved.
“For those identified as participating in criminal activities, we will take swift and immediate disciplinary action—and for many, that will result in expulsion from this institution,” Gee said.
Citations were issued to the following people among others:
• Alexander Gamm, 18: Malicious Burning
• Thomas Stankevicz, 18: Underage Consumption
• Brian Quinn, 18: Possession of a Controlled Substance
• Robin Markonsky, 20: Underage Consumption
• Daniel Kennedy, 20: Underage Consumption
• Caroline Foreback, 18: Underage Consumption
• Brigid Suckel, 20: Underage Consumption and Possession of a False Identification
• Carly Kane, 19: Underage Consumption
• Chirara Pulice, 19: Underage Consumption
• Elijah Wellman, 20: Disorderly Conduct
West Virginia University officials confirmed Wednesday that 14 of the 18 people the Morgantown Police Department have identified for arrests or citations are WVU students.
According to emergency records, some 114 emergency 911 calls were reported at the Monongalia County emergency management agency along with 135 non-emergency calls and 126 incidents requiring public safety responses.
The list of damages included three Morgantown police cruisers, two Morgantown fire marshal vehicles and one fire engine, and three WVU patrol cars, one Monongalia County patrol car and one Westover police patrol car.
“Folks are fed up,” Chief Preston said on Wednesday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
“Students are fed up, faculty is fed up, the residents of Morgantown and residents of Monongalia County are fed up, the citizens of West Virginia are fed up. They’re tired of this recurring problem and they demand that people be held responsible for their actions.”