2 Charged In 'Disturbance' At Glastonbury Board Of Ed Meeting: PD

GLASTONBURY, CT — Nearly two months after a fight broke out at a Glastonbury Board of Education meeting, the two men involved have been charged with breach of peace.

The incident occurred at a meeting on Dec. 14, 2021 between a board of education member, later identified as Monte Ray McFall; and an audience member, later identified as Mark Finocchiaro, WTNH reported.

Video submitted to Fox 61 shows a heated exchange of words between the two men. Then, Finocchiaro approached McFall, leading McFall to push Finocchiaro into the auditorium seats. Finocchiaro then punched McFall, who fell to the floor.

Read more: Glastonbury Board Meeting Ends When Punch Is Thrown: Reports

Now, both men have been accused of breach of peace, and police described the incident as a "physical disturbance."

The men, Glastonbury residents, had active warrants for their arrest and turned themselves in to the Glastonbury Police Department — McFall on Thursday, and Finocchiaro on Friday.

Each man was charged with one count of second-degree breach of peace and released on $2,500 non-surety bond, and they have court dates scheduled for March.

The hearing, held in the Glastonbury High School auditorium, was in response to a petition with over 100 signatures to reinstate the Tomahawk as Glastonbury High School's mascot, according to WTNH. The school district had voted 7-1 to remove the name and logo in August 2020, the Journal-Inquirer reported.

Meeting attendees told Fox 61 that McFall, the board of education member, came off the stage to confront Finocchiaro, the audience member, during a recess of the meeting.

According to Fox 61, Finocchiaro can be heard saying to McFall: "That's unprofessional, why are you swearing at a citizen?" then "You're in my face?"

McFall responded with "Yeah, I'm in your face," the TV station said.

The meeting was adjourned after the altercation, and the district later reaffirmed its decision to change the school's mascot to the Guardian, WFSB reported.