St. Patrick's Day bar fight ends in gang assault charges

MONROE - Peter J. Breslin, 32, of Monroe, Edward T. Breslin, 28, of Monroe, and Joseph P. Stewart, 26, of Monroe were all charged with second-degree gang assault, a class C Felony, as a result of a bar fight on March 18. They were arraigned by Judge Marshak and remanded to Orange County Jail on $25,000 cash bail. The gang assault charge applies when three or more people cause serious injury to another. At 3 a.m. on March 18 the Monroe Police communications center received a call about a fight in progress at Bourbon Street, a Millpond Parkway bar. Upon the officers’ arrival, there was a large fight in progress, and one male was bleeding from a laceration to the side of the head. While the officers were interviewing this victim, a 25-year-old male from Latham, a group of three men continued to act in a disorderly manner, including directing racial epithets at other customers. A small fight erupted because of this, and the three were taken into custody. The victim of the attack and other witnesses told police that these three were the ones who assaulted the 25-year-old. Monroe Ambulance responded and treated the 25-year-old at police headquarters and transported him to Arden Hill Hospital due to his injuries. A 32-year-old male walked into headquarters shortly thereafter and said that he had been hit in the head with a bottle during the fight. He was also treated at police headquarters by Monroe Ambulance but was not taken to the hospital. The investigation is continuing and more charges against the three could come after all interviews are completed.