Multiple arrests made, officers targeted when 'large and unruly crowd' formed in East Carson Street corridor, police say

Turmoil continued in Pittsburgh’s South Side entertainment district over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, in which shots were fired, people threw fireworks and other objects at officers, and several people were arrested or charged.

City police have been making a concerted effort recently to address rowdiness in the area.

Police said a “large and unruly crowd” gathered in the East Carson Street corridor Friday evening into early Saturday morning.

Officers in the 1400 block of Sarah Street heard shots fired around 1 a.m. Saturday. No injuries or property damage were reported.

Ronald Pelton, 23, of McKees Rocks was apprehended on the street and a firearm was recovered, police said. Another man fled the area on foot, police said.

Pelton is charged with discharging a firearm, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, public drunkenness and possession of a weapon. He was released Sunday from the Allegheny County Jail after posting $100, 10% of a $1,000 bail, according to court records.

Around 2 a.m., police began to disperse the remaining crowd after giving multiple warnings. People in the crowed began throwing projectiles and launching lit fireworks at officers and police vehicles.

Two officers suffered eye irritation from firework debris while another was hit by a rock, police said. All three declined medical attention from medics on-scene.

Officers used pepper spray and inert vapor or smoke only after they and their vehicles were targeted with projectiles, police said.

“To be clear, gas was not used at any point,” police said in a release.

Officers arrested Delricco White, 20, of Duquesne and Kyliek McCracken, 18, of Ambridge.

Police said White was arrested after being seen throwing fireworks at police. He is charged with aggravated assault, possessing instruments of crime, recklessly endangering another person, propulsion of missiles, evading arrest on foot and disorderly conduct.

White had not been arraigned as of Sunday evening, according to court records.

McCracken was seen fleeing with White, police said. He is charged with criminal conspiracy, disorderly conduct and evading arrest.

McCracken was arraigned Sunday and released on his own recognizance, according to court records.

The crowd was fully dispersed by about 3 a.m., police said.

Police made three more arrests and issued seven citations throughout the evening. Charges for the arrests and citations include aggravated assault on law enforcement, disorderly conduct, failure to disperse and marijuana possession.

Two additional firearms were also recovered, police said.