Sigler: Fights unrelated to gang violence

Neely Drive was lined with squad cars for the second straight night. Monday, when police responded to two calls regarding disturbances outside the Brush Towers.

Calls at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. reported small groups of students near the Towers acting aggressively toward one another, Todd Sigler, director of the Department of Public Safety, said.

An anonymous student resident of Mae Smith Hall said she witnessed a large group of people swarm a group of about 15 students leaving Mae Smith Hall during the second encounter Monday night.

She said the actions created a gang-like atmosphere but that it was unclear whether it was actually gang-related.

With recent rumors of gang-like attacks in Carbondale, many students and residents may be looking for some correlation.

Sigler said he would not categorize the recent disturbances at the Towers as organized gang fights.

“From what we understand, the students involved have taken part in previous encounters and continue to be agitated toward one another,” Sigler said.

Illinois State Police were said to have responded to three calls Sunday night near Brush Towers.

Following the Monday night disturbances, police were seen patrolling the area while others were stationed along the perimeter of the east campus residence halls.

There have been roughly half a dozen fights over the last few days, but with current information, none of the fights can be deemed related, Sigler said.

“We don’t know what has caused it to be more prevalent the last couple of nights, but that is what we’ve been wrestling with,” he said.