Rochester Police are looking at whether they could have done anything different last night to prevent fights that broke out between teenagers after the Independence Day fireworks.
Five teenagers between the ages of 14 and 16 were slashed by knives during what police say was actually a series of four-or-five simultaneous fights. Chief Michael Ciminelli says 30-to-40 teenagers were involved. Chief Ciminelli says there’s no evidence these fights were planned in advance. He says “there was a stumble on this one” and he wants to know what the difference was.
A 13-year-old was arrested for having a knife and was released to his parents.
Police had about 60 officers patrolling downtown during the July 4th festivities, about the same as in past years.
Police closed down the Broad Street Bridge when two groups began fighting on it. Other fights were reported at Main Street and Clinton Avenue and another fight was reported outside the Transit Center.