Charlottesville Police issued six summonses to University students on the corner of 14th Street and Wertland Street Saturday night as hundreds of people gathered in the roadway, according to Charlottesville Police Sgt. L. A. Durrette.
Police were dispatched to the intersection because students were blocking the roadway when a rescue squad attempted to respond to a medical emergency down the street, Durrette said.
"My understanding is several hundred students were there, and police responded precisely because someone -- and possibly one of our students -- needed medical attention, and the students were not cooperative with the police in terms of emptying the street," said Aaron Laushway, associate dean of students and director of fraternity and sorority life.
Second-year College student Katherine Rothrock, who lives on Wertland Street, said she witnessed the block party that drew the crowd into the streets. She said she was amazed by how many students were packing the street, making it extremely difficult for cars to pass through the area.
Durrette said all students who received summonses were charged with obstruction of justice, which means they did not comply with verbal commands or directions from the officers. The students were required to sign their summonses as a promise that they will appear in court. A presiding judge will then render a decision on the misdemeanor charges.
In addition to the police action that had to be taken against University students, Laushway said the trash and disarray resulting from the block party were a disturbance to the community.
"If you walked down Wertland Street on Sunday morning, there was just way too much trash, and it's not necessary," he said. "It sends the wrong message."
Laushway said he hopes University students will learn from the incident and realize the need to be courteous citizens by complying with all law enforcement requests as well as showing respect and pride for the larger Charlottesville community by keeping the neighborhoods clean.
Laushway added that the police said the incident was not a good way to start the academic year and that he hopes it will not be a recurring problem.
"I would like to think that this was an isolated event that will not be repeated," he said. "And I would hope that the student community understands their responsibilities to maintain peaceful relations and orderly residences within the community."
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