Downtown melee, stabbing punctuate violent Sunday night

2017© ROCHESTER - Sunday proved an unusually violent night in downtown Rochester as police responded to a melee on Ela Court involving at least 30 individuals around 8 p.m. and a stabbing on Bridge Street less than an hour later.

The first incident was in relation to a car accident in the area of Ela Court in which a pedestrian was hit. Police are still not sure exactly what the timeline is as an investigation into what happened is still in its early stages, Rochester Police Capt. Jason Thomas said today.

Thomas said when four police officers converged on the area they found a group of 30 to 50 people fighting.

"There was a lot of chaos," Thomas added.

As some officers took statements another trying to tend to the victim was being harassed by someone in the crowd, Thomas said.

"He was being belligerent with the officer, he kept interfering, so the officer placed him under arrest," Thomas added.

Police were finally forced to arrest Eric Andrews, 41, of 238 Governors Road, Farmington, for disorderly conduct, but Andrews didn't go easily. He fought with officers prior to being taken into custody. Andrews was also charged with resisting arrest and criminal mischief for kicking a cruiser, Thomas said.

Andrews was being held $2,500 bail prior to an arraignment today.

Because of the scope of the fighting, State Police, Farmington Police and Somersworth Police all responded to the call.

The pedestrian who was hit was taken to Frisbie Memorial Hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries and later released.

Another victim hurt in the fracas refused treatment for a minor injury.

In the second violent confrontation of the evening, police were called around 8:45 for a stabbing on Bridge Street.

In that incident it a 19-year-old Rochester man is suspected of stabbing an 18-year-old man in the stomach after the two got into an argument.

The victim was taken to Frisbie Memorial Hospital with what were described as nonlife-threatening wounds. He was treated and later released.

When police arrived on scene the suspect had fled, but he came to the Police Department about 40 minutes later to give his statement.

The man has not been arrested as police look to conduct more interviews prior to charging him.

"These two men knew each other, so we don't feel the public is at risk," Thomas said.