WARREN (WWJ) - Four people are injured, six are facing charges and police are answering questions after what Police Commissioner Bill Dwyer calls a "mini riot" in Warren.
It happened Monday evening on Ford Avenue, in a subdivision off of 9 Mile Road.
"We initially got the first call at about 7:15 p.m., and it was shots fired. As a result of that we arrested one juvenile at a home," Dwyer told WWJ's Sandra McNeill. "About 15 minutes later, we got another call (about) a large crowd and disturbance in the street. Officers responded and found that there was at least 50 to 60 people involved in a battle...an altercation."
Dwyer said the fight was "over a woman."
"I guess you could classify it as a love triangle," he said.
Four people were taken to a local hospital. "There was two males that had head injuries, and there was two other that had serious injuries," Dwyer said.
In total, he said, one juvenile and five adults were arrested.
In a cell phone video, which has been shared more than 5,400 times on Facebook, a woman is seen walking in the street when she is taken to the ground by an officer.
While the person who posted the video called her "an innocent bystander," Dywer said the 55-year-old Warren resident was disobeying officers' commands to stay away.
"The lady in question, the female in question, was warned several times," he said. "She put her arms up, kind of pushed towards the officer, there was an altercation, she was pushed down, she was not injured, she was arrested."
Dwyer said the woman, who has a criminal record including prior assaults and interfering with police, has been arraigned on assault charges and released on $10,000 cash/surety bond.
The commissioner added that he has viewed the video several times and that the officers did nothing wrong.
"I think what you see there is a very small portion of the entire incident," Dwyer said. "And I think, I believe, that people are looking at the police officers as using excessive force, which I don't agree with."
"For the record...these types of incidents are very difficult for the officers to make it safe for all those that are involved," Dwyer added. "I've classified it as a 'mini riot' of sorts, because you had 50 or 60 people. The officers were trying to do the best they could. They were very professional."
The juvenile been charged and the additional adults arrested are awaiting arraignments Thursday on charges including felony assault, aggravated assault and interfering with police.