MANKATO, MINN. -- As the first half-dozen people arrested in the homecoming weekend riot appeared in court Monday, police and officials at Minnesota State University, Mankato, vowed to pursue more arrests.

"We already have some videos from people who say, 'I was assaulted and here's a picture of the guy who hit me,' " said Jim Franklin, city director of public safety. "Our intent is to prosecute those to the fullest."

Franklin made a public plea Monday for videotapes and still photographs that may show more people engaged in criminal acts. Authorities arrested 45 people during and immediately after the rioting.

"I call it simple alcohol anarchy," Franklin said.

"It was a mob mentality: 'Nobody knows who I am and I can do whatever I want.' " the public safety director said.

Colin Chlebeck

Mike Zerby

Star Tribune

He defended the police response, saying that authorities responded to the disturbance with a plan, but they had to retreat and regroup twice after they were outnumbered.

"We'll be reviewing that plan and making changes," he said.

No weapons were discharged by police except for pepperball rounds, which can sting like paintballs and may have been mistaken for rubber bullets by some students, Franklin said.

More than 200 officers and other personnel from 41 agencies responded to the rioting, including police from as far away as Hastings, Luverne and Carver County, which sent Sheriff Bud Olson.

Several officers were hurt, though none required an overnight hospital stay.

Brad Peterson, Blue Earth County sheriff, said he called during the riot for help from the Minnesota National Guard but was told it would take too long to get troops mobilized.

The rioters mobilized fast -- by phone. "Everybody who was up there was talking on a cell phone," Franklin said. "There's no question it helped swell the crowd."

Peterson said weather also was a factor. "It was a nice day to be outside," he said, and some of those arrested were shirtless in the early morning.

Also, for some people it appeared to be a matter of pride to out-riot the April disruption at the University of Minnesota after the Gophers won the national hockey championship.

The Mankato riot was "a copycat" for some, Peterson said. "It was them saying, 'Let's us do it and get our school on the map.' "

Two men appeared in Blue Earth County District Court on Monday charged with third-degree riot and fourth-degree assault of a police officer, both gross misdemeanors.

Nolan Michael Siemers, 20, of Faribault -- listed on the university's Web site as a student majoring in law enforcement -- is accused of throwing bottles at officers.

Austin Patrick Carey, 21, of Ham Lake, is accused of hitting a North Mankato police officer with an object believed to be a rock. It was not clear whether Carey is a student.

Bail for each of the men was set at $2,500. Bail of $500 each was ordered for four others charged Monday with disorderly conduct, obstructing legal process and underage consumption of alcohol.

Civic black eye

Saturday's riot at Mankato drew warnings from state legislators who promised efforts to make future college rioters pay for their mayhem.

"The damage done by a few dozen students and others puts an undeserving black eye on Mankato," said Senate Majority Leader John Hottinger, DFL-St. Peter, who represents Mankato. "I'm equally disappointed that others stood by and watched parts of our community literally go up in flames."

Hottinger said he would reintroduce legislation he sponsored last session to make students convicted of rioting crimes pay higher tuition. He also said legislators should work more closely with state colleges "to assist campus security, cut down on underage drinking and provide positive outlets for student activities."

Rep. Carla Nelson, R-Rochester, said she will reintroduce legislation she sponsored after the University of Minnesota riot to strip state grants and other financial benefits from college students who are convicted of crimes related to riot-like behavior.

Officials have said that about 20 of the people arrested over the weekend are students at the Mankato school. The student newspaper, The Reporter, said at least one other person who was arrested is an alumnus of the school.

Sad, embarrassed

The riot had its lighter moments. A photographer for the Mankato Free Press said that as he was about to shoot a picture of a burning car at the height of the rioting, a young man began roasting marshmallows over flames from the vehicle.

But sadness, anger and embarrassment were more common reactions Monday in Mankato, on campus and off.

"Everybody was having a fine time until the police fired off the tear gas," said Nicole Domeier, 19, standing outside the building where she lives at the Campus View apartment complex, where most of the destruction took place.

Her friend, Trish Zinniel, also 19, added, "That's when the rebellion began."

Zinniel said students had been partying since 8 a.m. Saturday but weren't causing trouble until police arrived and began using tear gas. "The students were furious and wanted to make a point," she said.

Lindsey Hoffman, 19, said a helicopter hovering above "started flashing a spotlight and that riled up everybody."

Sherrie Klugherz, manager of a tanning salon near campus, said she learned about the riot when a friend called her -- from Indiana -- and told her to turn on her TV.

"It's horrible because of the national attention it brings to us," she said. "It's not something that the town wants to be known for."

Chris Vosburg, 21, and his roommate, Robert Sichmeller, 20, said they were having their own party at their home about 1 1/2 miles from campus when they saw helicopters.

Neither is a student at the university but both grew up in Mankato and work in the area.

"It's not respectful to the town," Sichmeller said. "It's not respectful to MSU. It was really dumb."

Joe Wilmes, 18, was still cleaning up Monday morning in a parking lot across from the university. He said he arrived at his maintenance job at about 4 a.m. Sunday and found the lot littered with beer cans and bottles.

"I think it's sad that people have to destroy other people's property," he said.

Lisa Smith, co-owner of a coffee shop, said she doubts that students realize how much damage they've done. She also spent Monday morning picking up trash.

"It's sad partially because nothing too severe is going to happen to them, so they won't realize how much their actions have affected people and the city," she said.

The writers are at statenews@startribune.com