On June 26, a fight broke out outside the Adirondack Bank Center in Utica after a high school graduation ceremony. According to a statement from the Utica Police Department, officers working with city school district security staff were alerted to the altercation at around 6:30 p.m.
Three individuals were charged in connection with the incident. Two unnamed men, aged 18 and 19, were charged with disorderly conduct, while Justin Phillips, 44, of Utica, was charged with obstructing governmental administration.
The police statement described the scene as chaotic, with multiple parties involved in the fight and others attempting to intervene or prevent arrests. An officer deployed pepper spray to break up the fights, and all three men were eventually taken into custody and transported to the Utica Police Department for further investigation.
The incident is still under investigation, and additional charges may be filed if warranted. The police department has not released any further information about potential suspects or motives at this time.