A large fight at a high school basketball game between Clairton and Monessen has resulted in disorderly conduct charges against a dozen people, including six juveniles, police said Friday.
Those being charged range in age from 16 to 31, according to Clairton police.
Disorderly conduct is a summary offense. All 12 people will be notified via summons; they can plead guilty by mail without a court appearance, or plead not guilty and request a hearing. The maximum penalty for an adult is 90 days in jail and a $300 fine.
Two of those people — Andrew Carr, 31, and his twin brother, Andre — told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that they are wrongly charged. The Carrs said they both coach baseball for Clairton, and that they were not part of the brawl.
“I had my 2-year-old son and my 6-year-old son. I hurried up and got my kids out of there before anything occurred. I didn’t want my kids to see that fight like that,” Andrew Carr said.
“I didn’t even step on the court,” he added. “I grabbed my kids, I grabbed their coats, I got out of there. If they actually look at the video, you will see me.”
“I was next to him, grabbing his other son,” Andre Carr said. “He has two kids.”
The brawl broke out near the end of a boys basketball game at the Clairton gym Feb. 6. Police said one Clairton player and one Monessen player hit each other, and the situation quickly escalated to involve some fans who were in attendance.
No assault charges were filed.
“Throughout the course of the investigation, victims who were assaulted were given an opportunity to come forward so that officers can properly charge those responsible for causing injury,” police said. “As of this date, not one victim has come to police.”