Four charged in riot near school

Friday, November 06, 2009 11:50 AM  |  Printer friendly version | E-mail to a friend |

By Shelley Smithssmith@salisburypost.com

Four teens were arrested Tuesday in connection with the after-school riot near Salisbury High School.

Dadrian Ty Quan Cowan, 18, and Jaleesa Symone Miller, 17, were arrested and charged with resisting, delaying or obstructing a public officer.

Larry Jamar Burch, 18, and Freeman Franklin Payton, 16, were arrested and charged with willfully inciting a riot.

All charges were filed Tuesday, and are misdemeanors.

"The ones that were arrested were egging on people to resist," said Chief Deputy Steve Whitley of the Salisbury Police Department. "The arrests were a by-product of the big fight, and they decided to stay behind and heckle the police."

Whitley said he doubts additional arrests or charges will be made "unless someone discovered information that led them to believe something else was going on," he said.

"We really don't know what they were mad about or why they were fighting."

More than 50 people were involved in the fight Tuesday off South Caldwell Street near Salisbury High. The riot was so large, Salisbury Police had to call additional units for assistance.