Douglas Walker

dwalker@muncie.gannett.com

ANDERSON – Authorities had a feeling — through comments made on social media — that there was a potential for trouble at Friday night's Central-Anderson boys basketball game.

Those forecasts proved accurate, unfortunately.

Several arrests were made after a fight broke out in the stands at Anderson High School during the game's third quarter.

The resulting melee, which was quickly brought under control, caused a delay of about 30 minutes, with the teams and cheerleaders for a time leaving the gymnasium.

"It was ugly," Central principal Tom Jarvis said Saturday, adding that four to six participants appeared to be involved in the initial scuffle.

Jarvis said the fracas was apparently a "product of social media." He said he was notified by an Anderson school administrator last week that a small group of students who had been expelled from Anderson High School had made online comments suggesting violence was possible at Friday's game.

Those comments were apparently directed at some former Muncie students, he said.

Anderson school officials told WISH-TV the fight stemmed from "ongoing problems between Muncie and Anderson social groups."

In consultation with Supt. Tim Heller, Jarvis said, a decision was made to bring four Muncie security officers to Friday's games. Anderson also increased its game security staff from four to eight.

Muncie Police Chief Steve Stewart on Saturday confirmed he approved a request for Muncie reserve officers to accompany the Bearcat team bus to Anderson.

When the fight broke out, with about three minutes to go in the third quarter, there was briefly "mayhem," Jarvis said, with some people fleeing from their seats.

However, those involved in the brawl were quickly removed, and no injuries were reported. "It was handled very well by Anderson officials, and police, and our people," the Central principal said.

Jarvis said he did not believe any current Central students were arrested.

Madison County jail records reflect three young Muncie men — Cortez Davon Jones, 19; Gary D. Perkins, 21, and William D. Rucker, 18 — were booked into the Madison County jail on disorderly conduct charges about 10:30 p.m. Friday, as was an Anderson man, Maleek Shonte McWilliams, 18.

Rucker and Perkins were also charged with criminal trespass.

Earlier in the evening, another Muncie man, Vincent Eugene Wolfe II, 20, was also arrested on charges of criminal trespass and disorderly conduct. It was not immediately clear whether that arrest was tied to events at the high school.

A press release issued by Anderson Community Schools said 10 "individuals from both Muncie and Anderson were arrested while several others were removed from the game due to their conduct."

Any people arrested under the age of 18 presumably would have been taken to Madison County's juvenile detention center.

The ACS release said the "altercation was quickly diffused through a joint effort between Anderson and Muncie police officers who were in attendance as a precautionary measure."

After the fight, Anderson Community Schools Supt. Terry Thompson received applause when he announced that violence would not be tolerated, Jarvis said.

When the teams returned to the basketball court, players exchanged greetings at mid-court, also drawing an ovation, the principal said.

"I think that was a great sportsmanship move," Jarvis added.

Contact news reporter Douglas Walker at (765) 213-5851. You can also follow him on Twitter @DouglasWalkerSP.