NASHUA, N.H. (AP) – What began as a football game in the street ended up as a struggle between a teenager and a police officer – and a shouting match involving about 60 residents and 20 police cruisers.

It started when Nashua police said they responded to a report of a disorderly group in a residential area Monday night.

Capt. Doug Hayes said an officer asked Matthew Perry, 19, and several others playing football to clear the street. The officer was met with loud cursing from Perry, Hayes said.

After several warnings to be quiet, Hayes said the officer arrested Perry on a charge of disorderly conduct. Hayes said a struggle then ensued during Perry’s arrest.

Perry refused to be seated in the police cruiser and the officer had to use force to get him inside, Lt. Bruce Hansen said. Perry then attempted to kick out the cruiser’s windows and eventually got out before he was apprehended again, Hansen said.

Perry also was charged with criminal mischief, felony escape, assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and possession of marijuana, Hayes said.

Roger Doucette, 37, Perry’s stepfather, and Perry’s 16-year-old brother were allegedly yelling at police and were charged with hindering apprehension, Hayes said. Chad Landry 20, who was shouting to the crowd, also was arrested. Hayes said he was trying to incite a riot “by building the public’s alarm.”

Witnesses said it was the arresting officer’s actions that incited the massive protest.

Vivano Rosario, 17, who was standing about 12 feet away when Perry was arrested, said Perry argued with the officer and asked why he wasn’t allowed to play football.

The officer warned Perry not to get smart and that if he kept it up he would get arrested for disorderly conduct, Rosario said.

She said Perry then got angry and swore at the officer while questioning why he couldn’t play football. The officer then arrested and cuffed him, she said.

Rosario said the officer pushed Perry against the side of his police cruiser and told Perry “You can’t (expletive) with police like that.”

After Perry replied with a profanity, Rosario said the officer “palmed” him in the face, giving him a bloody nose.

“That’s when everybody started freaking out, saying, ‘You can’t do that,’ at the officer,” Rosario said.

No complaints against the officers conduct have been filed, Hayes said.

“I don’t see that this officer did anything wrong,” Hayes said. “But as always, we will do our investigation and see what will happen in the end.”

AP-ES-07-29-03 1525EDT

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