ALBANY -- A group of college parties exploded into a huge melee on Hudson Avenue early Saturday morning before Albany's St. Patrick's Day parade, and police arrested six persons on charges ranging from rioting to assaulting a police officer.

City police responded to so-called "Kegs & Eggs" house parties near the intersection of Ontario Street at 7:15 a.m. and found several hundred students in the street, drinking alcohol and destroying property, city police spokesman Detective James Miller said.

"The group became large and unruly and started to damage several cars parked in the area by attempting to overturn one, smashing car windows and caving in the roof of one car," Miller said. "They also threw furniture from second-floor porches onto cars and the street, and beer bottles at a large number of officers who had responded (to) quell the group."

Miller said those arrested were: Carl Petrucelli and Joseph Almazon, both 21, who were charged with first-degree riot, a felony, second-degree reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, all misdemeanors; Patrick Fries, 21, charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, a felony, second-degree reckless endangerment, first-degree riot, resisting arrest and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon; Samantha Cohen, 20, charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, obstruction, a misdemeanor, and resisting arrest; Andrew Sherman, 22, charged with unnecessary noise, a violation; and Sebastian Niec, 23, charged with disorderly conduct, also a violation.

Three of the people arrested are students at the University at Albany, Miller said.

Cohen jumped on the back of a police officer and hit him on the head as he was making an arrest Miller said. A male suspect allegedly threw a rock and hit an officer in the leg, he said.

Police also cited four UAlbany students at 180 Quail St. for unnecessary noise Saturday morning, Miller said.

Steve Putnick, a Marist College junior from Rockland County, said he couldn't believe the scene on Hudson Avenue early Saturday.

"It was (expletive) crazy stuff going on," said Putnick, who wore a green sweatshirt with a shamrock and an "Irish grandfather" cap. Putnick said he witnessed a group throw a 65-inch television off a balcony, a car get flipped over and beer cans and bottles being thrown everywhere.

Many other partygoers declined comment.

The parties -- an annual rite for students at some area colleges -- started well before daybreak Saturday and were still roaring along city streets, in homes and on porches at noon. Men and women wore green and chugged canned beer as they prepared to observe the city's annual parade, which kicked off at 2 p.m. Red plastic cups and garbage was strewn along sidewalks.

Jason Corrigan, 22, of Albany, watched the morning unfold from a window. He said that more than 20 city police officers descended on Hudson Avenue after 7 a.m., and used batons, Mace and riot gear to push students off the street and into homes. While the students were no angels, police "were walking into homes without permission, telling people to get off the balconies," Corrigan said.

Miller said Corrigan's charges did not merit a response.

Putnick said that police did not use excessive force. "They did their job," said Putnick, who was holding an unopened case of Bud Light. He said he was 21.