Five Arrests After Pepper Spray Used to Break Up Fight

Five people were arrested after police discharged pepper spray and engaged in a “lengthy struggle” at an Elliott Street house party in Beverly on Monday night.

Police were first called to the area of Elliott and Chase streets at 8:45 p.m. on Monday for “several people fighting,” said Officer Michael Boccuzzi, a Beverly police spokesman.

Everyone had fled the area when police arrived, but 20 minutes later police got a call about a noisy party at 38 Elliott St.

Callers told police that several people were fighting on the back porch and police asked the residents to have their friends leave. That’s when things “erupted,” according to police and one of the men became aggressive toward police. He was sprayed with pepper spray and soon afterward, two of the other men became aggressive and were also sprayed, Boccuzzi said. After a “lengthy struggle,” three men - all related - were arrested charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest; Andrew J. Walker, 21, of 38 Elliott St.; Anthony C. Walker, 21, of 34 Elliott St. and Fred S. Walker Jr., 22, of 34 Elliott St.

Salem police were also called to assist and sent two officers. Salem officers, in a report, said they helped Beverly officers in “containing a large fight.”

As the men were being taken to police cruisers, another man began to allegedly yell and taunt officers. Salem police, who had been called to assist Beverly officers, arrested Michael R. Fortunato, 22, of 140 New Balch St. and charged him with two counts of disturbing the peace. Ariel Zorrilla, 19, of 11 Wagner St., Peabody was also arrested on a warrant from Salem District Court.

In all, six Beverly officers and two Salem officers responded.