Three College students were arrested at Williams College on Saturday in the excitement that ensued following the Williams Homecoming football game against the College. Brandon Cody '05, Da nie l Ma rk s '06, and Cameron Smith '07 were arrested on larceny under $250 charges, according to a Williamstown Police Department press release. 

As police tried to prevent fights from breaking out between Amherst and Williams students after the game, some students were seen attempting to remove hurdles and pylons from the field. Police singled out a few of these students.

"I believe the arrests were for stealing Williams College property," said associate director of security at Williams College, Dave Boyer. 

Smith denies that he was trying to steal a hurdle. "After the game a bunch of kids saw a hurdle. I picked it up with no intention of taking it," said Smith.

Smith observed police approaching another person prior to his arrest. According to Smith, the police were five feet away. "I saw another kid with [a hurdle] and a bunch of cops ran up to him. Then I put mine back down on the ground," said Smith. "The cops grabbed my shoulder, handcuffed me and put me in the back of a squad car."

Although the Williamstown police department released Smith from custody, he will have to appear in court to face the charge of larceny. "My friend had to post my bail," said Smith. "The charge will most likely be dismissed because my record is clean. I have to go back up there on Friday for policy."

Cody and Marks did not wish to comment.

Witnesses had their own opinions. "I got there toward the tail end of it. One of our [football] teammates, Emmanuel Ashamu, was upset," said Taharqa Patterson '05. "When I came over to ask him what was wrong, he said that [Cody] had taken a hurdle, but what's most upsetting is that this all happened in the midst of a lot of madness, and they singled [Cody] out," he added.

"Four of [Cody's] friends, all black, came over and got really angry.," said Corey Shtasel-Gottlieb '07. "They called the cops racist several times, and kept asking them for their names and badge numbers. The cops put Cody up against a car and handcuffed him."

Duncan Webb '04 questioned the tactics of the police officers who arrested Cody. "From what I heard, it was a selective arrest by the Williamstown police. It is disappointing to think that it goes on anywhere, but especially in one of the towns with a NESCAC team," said Webb.

Smith and Cody have court dates scheduled for Nov. 14 in Williamstown; Marks' court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 19.