Two LIers charged in Albany college melee

Two friends from Hicksville are scheduled to appear in Albany City Court Thursday on charges they were involved in a riot at a pre-St. Patrick's Day party near the University at Albany, Albany police and law enforcement officials said.

University at Albany student Carl Petrucelli, 21, and Joe Almazon, 21, of Hicksville, were charged with first-degree riot, second-degree reckless endangerment, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and resisting arrest, Albany district attorney spokeswoman Heather Orth said.

Both pleaded not guilty Sunday. Petrucelli was released on $35,000 bail and Almazon on $20,000 bail.

The weapon they are accused of using is a beer bottle, Orth said.

More than 50 people, mostly students at University at Albany or the nearby College of St. Rose, were arrested Saturday after the massive disturbance, Orth said.

"My guy was up visiting his friend, and although the DA says my guy was a participant in it, we deny it," Mineola lawyer Edward Galison, who represents Almazon, said Tuesday.

Galison said Almazon was arrested in his friend's home.

"He was in the house, was not outside. Not involved," Galison said.

The incident stemmed from a so-called "Kegs and Eggs" pre-St. Patrick's Day celebration, Orth said.

Albany police were called to the so-called "student ghetto" near Hudson Avenue and Hamilton Street around 6 a.m. Officials said the area near St. Rose has long been known for raucous student parties.

Some of the incident Saturday was caught on video and posted on several websites. Video shows students, many dressed in green, milling in the street. One young man pounds the roof of a car, while another runs across the tops of several cars. Another young man tosses a TV set from a second-floor balcony.

It was not immediately clear what role police say Petrucelli and Almazon played in the incident.

Carle Place attorney Robert Zuflacht represented Petrucelli during his arraignment but said he is no longer representing him. No one answered calls to a number listed for the Petrucelli residence in Hicksville on Wednesday.

Many of those arrested were issued summonses for violations, while others faced misdemeanor charges, Orth said.

Galison said Almazon's bail is excessive for the low-level charges and Almazon, a graduate of Holy Trinity High School in Hicksville, has no criminal record.

"My guy is claiming his innocence," Galison said Tuesday. "He wasn't charged with assaulting a cop. He has no criminal history."