UConn officials investigating house party that resulted in 2 arrests

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CONNECTICUT - A party attended by more than 100 people at a small house near the University of Connecticut has resulted in two arrests and an investigation by school officials into possible student conduct violations.

State police responded to a complaint about a loud party late Saturday near the main campus in Storrs and estimated that more than 100 people were inside the house, troopers said. Under the state's coronavirus restrictions, private indoor gatherings are limited to 50% capacity and capped at 100 people.

A renter of the house, Christian Vitti, 21, was charged with violating the state's coronavirus rules, interfering with police and permitting a minor to possess alcohol. He was released on a $1,000 bond and ordered to appear in court on April 21.

State police said Mikaela Puzzo, 19, threw an alcoholic beverage can that struck a trooper in the back. The trooper wasn't hurt. Puzzo was charged with disorderly conduct and possession of alcohol by a minor. She posted $1,000 bail and is to appear in court on April 14.

Vitti, a UConn student, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that what was supposed to be a small gathering "got out of hand" and he believes he should not have been arrested. He said he was upstairs in the home when he discovered there was a large gathering in the basement, and he tried to get people to leave.

"I said, ‘Oh, God,’" Vitti said. "I wasn't sure exactly what I was supposed to do."

Messages seeking comment were left for Puzzo, who also attends UConn, according to her Instagram account.

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Another renter of the home, Thomas Bartolotta, was issued a written infraction for violating the state gathering limits.

A message seeking comment was left for Bartolotta, whose Facebook page says he is a UConn student.

State police referred information about the party to UConn officials, who are investigating whether students who attended should be disciplined, school spokesperson Stephanie Reitz said.

"UConn takes the Governor’s Executive Order’s provisions very seriously, and expects its students to do the same to help protect the health and safety of its campus communities," Reitz wrote in a statement.

It was the second large party near UConn to be busted this month. Three people were issued infractions in connection with a gathering of 150 to 200 people about mile from campus on March 6.