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Another Day, Another McCarren Park Pool Melee
By
John Del Signore
Published Jul 2, 2012
Modified Jul 3, 2012
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Courtesy Evan Rose/Gothamist
By
John Del Signore
Published Jul 2, 2012
Modified Jul 3, 2012
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[UPDATE: Two cops were sent to the hospital.] Pandemonium broke out yet again at the newly-reopened McCarren Park Pool, where a lifeguard was assaulted on Friday. This afternoon's fracas happened around 5 p.m., and one witness, Evan Rose, tells us at least four people were arrested. Rose was enjoying a day at the pool when "all hell broke loose." He tells us that suddenly, "I heard a giant roar, and all of a sudden a bunch of kids were running and doing backflips into the pool." The lifeguards tried to get the rule-breakers out of the pool, and the situation devolved predictably from there.
Yep. Mccarren park pool closed today b/c of violence!! #greenpoint
— Reverend Jeff (@WOM_NYC) July 2, 2012
Rose says police were quickly called to try and restore order, and more than ten squad cars responded to the scene. At least 20 officers swarmed the pool, and at some point an officer claimed he was punched in the face. Rose didn't see the officer get assaulted, but one cop had scratches on his face, and another officer was heard telling a young man in handcuffs, "That's what happens when you hit a cop!"
The pool is currently open, but Rose tells us he doesn't plan to go back in, declaring, "This place is a disaster." The NYPD press office did not yet have any information about the arrests, and the Parks Department has not yet responded to a request for comment. But we'll let you know if we hear back. Earlier this afternoon at the pool...
Pretty big Monday line outside the "new" McCarren pool. Everything seems calm and good though. No fights 2day. twitter.com/GothamSideWalk…
— Gotham SideWalks (@GothamSideWalks) July 2, 2012
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John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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