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http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=44537
Indoor football star faces charges in melee
Reading Express player Carmelo Ocasio is accused of challenging police during a confrontation that arose when another man was picked up on a warrant.
By Jason A. Kahl
Reading Eagle
A star wide receiver for the Reading Express indoor football team was arrested Tuesday on charges he started a riot during a confrontation with police involving about a dozen people at Ninth and Court streets.
Carmelo Ocasio, 27, of the 200 block of Mansion Drive, Cumru Township, was awaiting arraignment late Tuesday in Reading Central Court.
Ocasio, who is a former all-Berks receiver and defensive back for Reading High School, is charged with instigating a riot, obstructing the administration of law and disorderly conduct.
He surrendered to police at City Hall about 6 p.m., a short time after District Judge Wally Scott issued a warrant for his arrest.
City police said Ocasio ripped off his shirt and challenged police to a fight during the melee Monday shortly before 5 p.m. in an apartment in the 900 block of Court Street.
Police said they had to shoot two people with stun guns and arrest them and another person during the melee, which pitted three officers against about a dozen people in the apartment.
Investigators gave this account:
Two bail bondsmen saw Michael Tiburcio, age and address unavailable, at Ninth and Court streets about 5 p.m.
The bondsmen, whose names were unavailable, knew arrest warrants had been issued for Tiburcio in two drug cases and for failing to pay support.
After the two handcuffed Tiburcio, a large group of relatives and friends started to fight with the bondsmen.
More than a dozen police arrived, got the bondsmen out of the apartment and verified that Tiburcio was wanted.
When they tried to remove Tiburcio from the apartment, Ocasio blocked the door, ripped off his shirt and challenged police to fight.
He also encouraged others to fight with the police and told them to get out of the apartment, which he said was his.
Police believe Ocasio is related to one of the defendants.
Arrested with Tiburcio were his brother, Montgomery Tiburcio Jr., 19, of the 300 block of North Front Street, and his mother, Altagracia Tiburcio, 43, of the 400 block of North Fifth Street.
All three were committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of bail.
During the fight, Montgomery Tiburcio punched and kicked Sgt. Felix Carr, who was not seriously injured.
Kelly Logan, Express head coach, said he expects Ocasio to play Saturday against the Canton Legends for the American Indoor Football Association Northern Conference title.
"Right now, we really don't know much about it," said Logan, a former police officer in New Jersey. "Being a police officer, any charge is serious, but I would say most likely he'll be bailed out somehow, some way."
-Contact reporter Jason A. Kahl at 610-371-5024 or jkahl@readingeagle.com.
[end of article]
The article is accompanied by a picture of Ocasio awaiting arraignment. He is medium black, natch. I put this on the NFL board to show that the NFL has no monopoly on pro football felons.
John
Indoor football star faces charges in melee
Reading Express player Carmelo Ocasio is accused of challenging police during a confrontation that arose when another man was picked up on a warrant.
By Jason A. Kahl
Reading Eagle
A star wide receiver for the Reading Express indoor football team was arrested Tuesday on charges he started a riot during a confrontation with police involving about a dozen people at Ninth and Court streets.
Carmelo Ocasio, 27, of the 200 block of Mansion Drive, Cumru Township, was awaiting arraignment late Tuesday in Reading Central Court.
Ocasio, who is a former all-Berks receiver and defensive back for Reading High School, is charged with instigating a riot, obstructing the administration of law and disorderly conduct.
He surrendered to police at City Hall about 6 p.m., a short time after District Judge Wally Scott issued a warrant for his arrest.
City police said Ocasio ripped off his shirt and challenged police to a fight during the melee Monday shortly before 5 p.m. in an apartment in the 900 block of Court Street.
Police said they had to shoot two people with stun guns and arrest them and another person during the melee, which pitted three officers against about a dozen people in the apartment.
Investigators gave this account:
Two bail bondsmen saw Michael Tiburcio, age and address unavailable, at Ninth and Court streets about 5 p.m.
The bondsmen, whose names were unavailable, knew arrest warrants had been issued for Tiburcio in two drug cases and for failing to pay support.
After the two handcuffed Tiburcio, a large group of relatives and friends started to fight with the bondsmen.
More than a dozen police arrived, got the bondsmen out of the apartment and verified that Tiburcio was wanted.
When they tried to remove Tiburcio from the apartment, Ocasio blocked the door, ripped off his shirt and challenged police to fight.
He also encouraged others to fight with the police and told them to get out of the apartment, which he said was his.
Police believe Ocasio is related to one of the defendants.
Arrested with Tiburcio were his brother, Montgomery Tiburcio Jr., 19, of the 300 block of North Front Street, and his mother, Altagracia Tiburcio, 43, of the 400 block of North Fifth Street.
All three were committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of bail.
During the fight, Montgomery Tiburcio punched and kicked Sgt. Felix Carr, who was not seriously injured.
Kelly Logan, Express head coach, said he expects Ocasio to play Saturday against the Canton Legends for the American Indoor Football Association Northern Conference title.
"Right now, we really don't know much about it," said Logan, a former police officer in New Jersey. "Being a police officer, any charge is serious, but I would say most likely he'll be bailed out somehow, some way."
-Contact reporter Jason A. Kahl at 610-371-5024 or jkahl@readingeagle.com.
[end of article]
The article is accompanied by a picture of Ocasio awaiting arraignment. He is medium black, natch. I put this on the NFL board to show that the NFL has no monopoly on pro football felons.
John