Will David of the Journal News is reporting:
NEW ROCHELLE — Seven students from Monroe College were arrested as New Rochelle police broke up a large gathering of disorderly students early Friday morning, authorities said. The seven — four young women and three men — were arrested after they refused orders to disperse issued by police who were trying to quell the disorderly crowd that was said to number dozens and as many as 100, Detective Capt. Joseph Schaller said. [READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE]
Without commenting on what happened in this particular incident, Talk of the Sound did observe New Rochelle police over the winter harassing Monroe College students outside of La Clave, also after midnight on an early Friday morning.
When a Talk of the Sound contributor attempted to take a photograph of the scene, one officer threatened the photographer. The incident occurred after midnight on February 4th, a bitter cold night. The New Rochelle police officer threatening the photographer was identified as Ryan Downs. A complaint about the incident was made to the New Rochelle City Manager later that morning.
In that case, there were about a dozen Monroe College students standing outside waiting to get inside. All of the students appeared to be African-American. The students were not loitering, being loud or bothering anyone. They were simply waiting to be let in to a nightclub that was at capacity; as patrons left the nightclub those in line were allowed in. The owner stated the event was a non-alcoholic party for Monroe College students. No alcohol was being served inside; Monroe Campus Security were present outside. Several police officers arrived on the scene. They told the students to disperse for no obvious reason.
A Talk of the Sound contributor was present, conversing with the owner of Le Clave, when police arrived. Asked why the police were dispersing the students waiting in line, one officer began to crowd the contributor. Upon holding up a cell phone with a camera to take a photograph, the contributor was threatened in a manner that strongly implied that he would be arrested if he took a photograph of the scene. At that point, the contributor put the phone away and called me at home. I drove to the scene. Upon being informed that I was on my way to the scene, the officers left with the students still standing outside the night club.