SHARON Police complete probe into melee

The district attorney will evaluate the evidence against both juveniles and adults.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- Police have finished their investigation into the melee at the Feb. 2 Sharon-Farrell high school basketball game and the Mercer County district attorney's office will determine who else will face criminal charges.
So far, only one person, Jesse J. Wilson, 20, of Sherman Avenue, a former Farrell football standout at Farrell, has been arrested. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday before District Justice James McMahon and the case now moves into common pleas court.
Wilson is charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, rioting, resisting arrest, recklessly endangering another person, simple assault and disorderly conduct.
He remains free on bond and is attending classes at the University of Cincinnati where he is a member of the football team. The university has suspended him from the football program pending the outcome of the charges against him.
James Epstein, Mercer County district attorney, said he received the completed police investigation Monday into the fight that occurred in the waning minutes of the basketball game.
Police have said that between 70 and 100 people were involved and that four off-duty Sharon officers received minor injuries in the fracas.
How it started: Police said the fight started between a man and a woman in the student section and spread rapidly as police tried to reach the combatants. Some of the crowd, including Wilson, tried to interfere with and attacked officers in the stands, police said.
A number of juveniles were taken into custody at the scene but were later released to parents or family members without charges being filed. Police, however, have said they expect various charges to be filed against a number of juveniles involved.
Epstein said his office will now evaluate evidence the police have gathered against both juveniles and adults.
Police said they conducted hundreds of interviews with people who attended the game that night and Epstein said police are still interested in hearing from anyone who was at the game but hasn't been interviewed yet.