By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

PAWTUCKET — A “turf war” of sorts was the apparent cause of a large brawl involving students that occurred outside Shea High School on Wednesday morning. According to Pawtucket Police, one adult male and 9 juveniles were subsequently arrested on disorderly conduct and assault charges stemming from the incident.

According to Detectives Sgt. Thomas Newman, head of the Youth Bureau, the fight started at around 9:36 a.m. after some angry words were exchanged between students over two youths who are from Central Falls. “It was a fight over 'area' and a feeling among some that these students didn't belong there,” said Newman.
Newman credited Shea High School teachers, along with School Resource Officer Hermano Pereira, for quickly intervening to stop the fight before it escalated. “It didn't last long. They did a great job and helped surpress the incident before anything else could happen,” said Newman. He added that there were no injuries reported.
Newman said that Shea High School officials have a strict policy against fighting and other such behavior and decided to go forward with charging all of the students who were involved in the incident.
The adult student, Johnny Moavero, of 339 Sayles Ave., 1st, Pawtucket, was arrested on two counts of simple assault and a charge of disorderly conduct, Newman said.
Eight other juvenile students were charged with disorderly conduct and simple assault, and one was additionally charged with felony assault with a dangerous weapon (a shod foot.) One other juvenile was charged with felony assault with a dangerous weapon (a shod foot) and disorderly conduct.