Ex-prosecutor is among 23 Celtics revelers arrested

Celtics fans tipped a cement planter at Faneuil Hall early yesterday. Nine were arraigned yesterday in Boston Municipal Court. (David Kamerman/Globe Staff)

Celtics celebrations landed a former high-profile prosecutor - who has been acquitted twice on rape charges and once tried out for "The Bachelor" reality show - back in court yesterday, among several tired, bruised, and regretful revelers.

Gary F. Zerola, formerly employed by the Suffolk County district attorney's office, was one of 23 people detained for various crimes - including smashing windows, uprooting street signs, and tearing apart park benches - during postgame disturbances following the Celtics championship victory over the Lakers Tuesday night.

Police fanned out across Boston's streets to disperse raucous crowds that night and early yesterday morning, but some fans still damaged buildings, angering business owners. Struggles with police left a 22-year-old Massachusetts man in critical condition after he went into cardiac arrest while being detained.

Vandalism and some violence have become a part of sports championships in the state. During post-Super Bowl rioting in 2004, a 21-year-old man was killed by a drunken driver. Later that year, police fired pepper pellets into a crowd celebrating a Red Sox victory, killing Emerson College student Victoria Snelgrove.

"I can't understand what goes through people's heads," said Robert Sable, executive director of Greater Boston Legal Services at 197 Friend St. The nonprofit, which represents disadvantaged clients, became the random target of revelers who yanked street-sign posts out of the sidewalk and smashed them through three of the building's windows early yesterday morning, he said.

"It's a terrible thing that what should have been a nice celebration will possibly deprive poor people of the help they need," said Sable, standing yesterday in his newly renovated lobby. Glass shards glimmered in the carpet, which may need to be replaced, he said. A dozen lobby chairs and a children's play area were also damaged.

Double-paned exterior windows of Vantage Deluxe World Travel, at 90 Canal St., were also smashed. Keith Nashawaty, general counsel for the company, estimated damage at $50,000.

Nine of those responsible for the early-morning chaos were arraigned yesterday in Boston Municipal Court on charges including disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, resisting arrest, and assault. Judge Thomas C. Horgan told the defendants to stay out of trouble and away from downtown Boston until their cases are resolved. They were all released on personal recognizance.

"It would have been much better if I had stayed at home," said Justin P. Eid, 22, of Dedham. Eid was charged with disorderly conduct and destruction of property after he climbed a tree near Faneuil Hall and tore down lights, according to court documents.

Cuts on Andre W. Reed's left cheek and forehead still bled as he awaited arraignment yesterday. Reed said he was leaving a bar on Charles Street when police told him and his cousin, Thomas Bridwell, to turn around. When they did not, he said, the officers tackled and punched them.

Reed said the police used excessive force. Elaine Driscoll, police spokeswoman, said Reed was shouting and not following police instructions. The two men were charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Zerola gained fame when he was honored in People magazine for his work on behalf of foster children and was named one of the nation's 50 "most eligible" bachelors by the magazine.

Police said they apprehended Zerola at 1:45 a.m. yesterday after he was spotted urinating in public near State and Congress streets, according to court documents. When asked what he was doing, Zerola used an open hand to strike a police officer in the upper right shoulder, and then fled down Congress Street, court documents say.

Zerola, 36, was quickly tackled and arrested on charges of assaulting a police officer, disturbing the peace, and resisting arrest. He was released on personal recognizance and scheduled for a pretrial conference on Aug. 7.

While leaving the courtroom yesterday, Zerola declined to comment but said he was happy the Celtics won.

His lawyer Paul Mahoney, said his client was returning home after the game when he "got caught up" in the wave of people being cleared by police.

In January 2008, a Suffolk Superior Court jury acquitted Zerola of attempted rape and other related charges involving a 19-year-old woman in his apartment in August 2006.

In March, he was again acquitted of charges stemming from an episode in his Boston apartment in February 2004 with a different 19-year-old woman. He had been accused of four counts of rape and one charge of procuring alcohol for a minor.

Rape charges were also dropped on June 12 against Zerola in Miami, where he had been accused of assaulting an 18-year-old university student at a Miami Beach hotel.

Following the Celtics celebration, David Woodman, 22, of Southwick, remained in critical but stable condition yesterday at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center after a scuffle with police. Woodman was crossing the street with a group of four friends just before 1 a.m., drinking from an open container of what appeared to be alcohol, according to a police report.

When police stopped him, Woodman tried to run away, the report said.

The officers chased him and tried to subdue him, but Woodman struggled to break free, the report stated. As they tried to place handcuffs on him, the officers noticed Woodman had stopped breathing. They performed CPR, then called an ambulance.

A law enforcement source with knowledge of the investigation said that Woodman had a pre-existing heart condition.

Woodman was also wanted on a separate arrest warrant, which was issued after he failed to appear in Roxbury District Court in August for a charge of malicious destruction of property.

Officers are seeking complaints against him for drinking in public and resisting arrest.

Maria Cramer of the Globe Staff contributed to this report. Christopher Baxter can be reached at cbaxter@globe.com