Oak Bluffs police arrest armed, intoxicated hockey fan

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Fans lined the glass and filled the stands as the Vineyard squared off against the Coyle and Cassidy Warriors Saturday night.

Oak Bluffs police arrested a hockey fan Saturday night who police said was unruly and intoxicated, and repeatedly tried to enter the Martha’s Vineyard Ice Arena after he was told to leave the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) game against rival Coyle and Cassidy.

Police said Brian D. Hill, 45, of Lakeville, a parent of one of the Coyle and Cassidy players, was arrested for trespassing and possession of a loaded firearm while under the influence of intoxicating liquor. Mr. Hill, a licensed gun owner, was carrying a 9mm Ruger pistol, police said.

Mr. Hill was booked in the Dukes County Jail, and released about 10 pm Saturday night on $100 cash bail.

Mr. Hill is scheduled to be arraigned in Edgartown District Court Thursday of this week. Coyle and Cassidy is a private Catholic school located in Taunton with a reputation for academic and athletic excellence. In a telephone conversation with The Times Tuesday, athletic director Thomas Pileski said the school had been in touch with MVRHS Principal Peg Reagan and athletic director Mark McCarthy.

“We relayed our deepest apologies to the entire Martha’s Vineyard community with regards to the behavior of some of our parents,” he said. “The behavior is truly unacceptable, and we will deal with it accordingly, and as expeditiously as possible. There will definitely be consequences.”

Mr. Pileski said, “Mr. McCarthy and the Oak Bluffs police handled the situation very professionally, because very few people knew of this situation. Our kids, the coach had no idea this had transpired.”

He added that there have been no similar incidents at Coyle and Cassidy games: “It truly surprises me that this occurred, but on the other hand, that is what alcohol does to you.”

MVRHS athletic director Mark McCarthy was at the game Saturday night. After he was made aware that some men were behaving inappropriately, he asked Oak Bluffs Police Officer Dan Cassidy, who was working a detail along with Officer J.J. Mendez, to speak to the group. “Three gentlemen were asked to leave the arena,” Mr. McCarthy said. “Two of them did, and stayed outside.”

Mr. Hill left, but attempted to reenter the arena several times, which led to his arrest for trespassing. “The fact that he was carrying a weapon had nothing to do with his arrest in the first place,” Mr. McCarthy said. “That was found incidental to the police officers doing their job.”

Mr. McCarthy said the police officers did a very good job keeping everything under control. “I don’t think anyone in the building knew what was going on,” he said.

In his report, Officer Cassidy said at 8:15 pm he was told by Mr. McCarthy and another man that several men were drinking and shouting profanities inside the ice arena near the rear exit. Officer Cassidy walked over to the men and saw Mr. Hill discard a beer can into a trash barrel.

“Upon peering into the trash can, I observed several Bud Light 12oz cans on top of the garbage,” Officer Cassidy wrote in his report.

Officer Cassidy said that he spoke to Mr. Hill, who became defensive and denied he had been drinking. Officer Cassidy said Mr. Hill appeared to be intoxicated. He was told to leave, at which point he became argumentative and left the arena.

Mr. Hill attempted to return to the arena, first though the front entrance and then through the rear entrance, where he joined his friends around the glass.

Sergeant Nicholas Curelli, who was not at the arena but had been called, and Officer Cassidy asked Mr. Hill to step outside, which he agreed to do. As the men walked outside, “Sgt. Curelli observed a large bulge on the right side waistband of Hill,” Officer Cassidy said. “Sgt. Curelli covered the bulge as Hill put his hands up in the air and stated, ‘I have a license to carry.’”

Police removed the pistol. Mr. Hill “continued to speak with officers and debate the validity of his arrest.”

Officer Cassidy said Mr. Hill’s speech was slurred and “he was unsteady on his feet.” Police found two “nip” bottles, small containers of liquor — one Jack Daniels and one Fireball — in his front pocket.

Police noted, “Hill was cooperative throughout the booking process.”

Oak Bluffs Police Lieutenant Tim Williamson said he was very proud of the way the officers handled the situation, and the fact that Sergeant Curelli recognized that Mr. Hill was armed and quickly moved the conversation outside the arena. He said the officers provided Mr. Hill an opportunity to leave without incident, but when he returned to the arena he left them with no choice.

Lieut. Williamson said it is unfortunate that Mr. Hill’s actions reflect poorly on the majority of responsible licensed gun owners. He said his department will request that the Lakeville police chief, the issuing authority, revoke Mr. Hill’s license to carry.

Lakeville Police Chief Frank B. Alvilhiera, the issuing authority, told The Times Monday he would take no action pending Mr. Hill’s arraignment.

Mr. Hill could not be reached for comment.