Coram man tried to stop fight, father says

The father of a University at Albany student and fraternity pledge from Coram who police say helped to beat a man into unconsciousness said his son was just trying to break up the fight.

Michael S. Gedell said his son, 21-year-old Michael D. Gedell had gone out for pizza Friday night with his friend when a fight broke out.

"He was trying to keep the friend from fighting and the police showed up," he said. "He tried to stop it all. He tried to break it up. And he got caught in the middle."

Michael D. Gedell and David A. Figueroa, 19, of White Plains, were arrested and charged with second-degree felony assault in the altercation, which took place at 3:45 a.m. in an area popular with students, according to the Albany Times Union.

The injured man suffered a broken nose, an injured eye socket and will need reconstructive surgery, according to the newspaper, which cited court documents.

The newspaper also reported that Gedell faced an additional misdemeanor charge of third-degree assault in connection with punching a second man, and that both Gedell and Figueroa were wearing blue shirts that indicated they were rushing this spring for Sigma Chi Epsilon, a fraternity that has lost its official university recognition for breaking school rules.

Gedell pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on bail, his father said.

His son, who is studying forensic science, is due back in court Wednesday, and can return to school but cannot leave the state, he said.