Staffer hurt in brawl at youth facility

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. (WIVB) - Two suspects are under arrest for an attack at a facility for troubled youth in Amherst.

At Gateway-Longview Sunday night, Amherst Police arrested two female residents of the facility who allegedly were going after a third female resident, when three counselors intervened. The counselor who took the lead was then beaten over the head and suffered a concussion, according to officials.

Vice President of Residential Services Al Dirschberger said, "She did what she was trained to and what her senses came to her and said, "I need to protect this young lady," and that's exactly what she did, followed by the other two staff."

The two female residents, both under 16, were arrested for assault, according to Gateway. The injured counselor was taken by ambulance to ECMC after she passed out.

"I heard she was in and out of consciousness when she was sitting down and feeling dizzy," Dirschberger said.

The incident caps off a recent flurry of calls from Gateway-Longview to Amherst Police. According to police records, there were 27 calls made in a 13-day period. Twenty calls concerned runaways or missing persons. Another three were complaints of harassment. There were also two assault calls, one call involving drugs, and one fight.

But a Gateway-Longview spokesman say serious assaults are rare occurrences.

"No, this is not really commonplace at all. I mean, it's really just a shame to see this kind of thing happen, too," said PR Specialist Beth Silverman.

In February of 2010, a plot to attack the staff by four teens was uncovered and steak knives were found in a teen's backpack.

Last February, four staff members were injured trying to break up a brawl.

The facility in Williamsville has beefed up security since then. At times they must deal with very aggressive behaviors.

"We take safety very serious with our staff. We provide training. We take safety very serious with the children we work with, as demonstrated by how our staff responded, and we take the safety of the community very serious," Dirschberger said.

The female counselor that was injured was treated and released at ECMC and is recovering at home. Gateway-Longview may seek to have the two female suspects expelled from facility.