tAtlantic City police make 64 arrests and seize over $250,000 worth of illegal substances
BY BOB HOLT
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
Rock band Phish is known for its multitude of followers on the road when on tour, and for that reason people are never really sure exactly what to expect.
Last weekend’s Phish concerts in Atlantic City drew big crowds — and more than a quarter-million dollars in drugs over the weekend.
Deputy Police Chief Ernest Jubilee said there were 64 arrests and over six figures in seized drugs.
According to the Press of Atlantic City, part of the seized concessions included 70 tanks of nitrous oxide, over 550 grams of marijuana, about 135 grams of mushrooms and more than 100 pills of various prescription narcotics, along with brownies, cookies and Rice Krispies treats laced with marijuana. Police also confiscated 21 cookies containing LSD.
The most arrests came Saturday, when 33 people were taken into custody. Capt. Glenn Abrams, who heads the Special Investigations Unit, injured his hand during one arrest, as a man fought him. Officer William Tracy’s portable police radio was stolen while he was arresting another man.
Knowing the popularity of Phish — and the drugs that often come with their shows — the department increased staffing last weekend, using both uniformed and undercover officers.
Phish fans have required more than a few communities to beef up security at their shows this year.
According to the Baltimore Sun, back in June Howard County Police made a total of 21 drug- and alcohol-related arrests during two Phish concerts at Merriweather Post Pavillion in Columbia, seizing three vehicles containing drugs and more than $10,000 in cash.
County police collaborated with Merriweather, providing extra forces — including officers from special operations and vice and narcotics — to supplement the venue’s security.
After breaking up in 2004, the band’s 2009 reunion show in Hampton, Va., saw 15 multi-day hospitalizations, and three overdose deaths, over the course of the three-day, 13,000-ticket capacity event, according to telluride watch.com.
In addition to injuries and overdoses related to nitrous oxide, ecstasy, and molly, a high-grade form of ecstasy, a one-day show in Mansfield, Mass., earlier this summer (capacity 20,000) produced 25 arrests for distribution of illegal substances and 30 to 40 overdose calls, Chief Marshal Jim Kolar said.
In mid-June 80 people were transported to the hospital over a two-day concert in Hartford, Conn., (daily capacity of 25,000) maxing out two level-one trauma centers.
And gothamist.com reported a 31-year old Connecticut resident finished off a June 22 Phish show at Great Woods in Mansfield, Massachusetts by selling nitrous oxide in the parking lot of a Red Roof Inn, throwing rocks at the cops who came to bust him, then running off into the woods. Gray then disappeared into the sewers, where he got lost for two days because most of the pipes are about 2 feet in diameter, and not wide enough for him to turn around.
Comments (3)
The other side…
3 Wednesday, 03 November 2010 20:26
Dr. J
On a brighter note, thousands of people didn’t get arrested and had a great time with new and old friends. And pumped a bunch of money into Atlantic City businesses. And didn’t beat each other up.
Reply
Hi
2 Wednesday, 03 November 2010 20:06
Walfredo
I agree Harry. WTF, can’t people just do what they want to do?
Reply
Phish Phans Unite
1 Wednesday, 03 November 2010 18:57
Harry Hood
Too bad Atlantic City would use its resources to promote such a show, then use it as bait for the fans that came to the economically depressed town to spend their money. No wonder Atlantic City has been hit so hard by the recession. I will not go back there again and I hope Phish never goes back either after receiving such bad press there. I’ll bet that it’ll be a long time before the AC hotels and casinos have so many full rooms. From now on I’ll wait till Phish plays somewhere more welcoming and I’ll gamble in my own state of Pennsylvania. I encourage all Phisheads to do the same!
Well…I saw the cop that “injured” his hand. Reason–Nitrous tank was laying unattended off of boardwalk (possibly planted by cops) and when this regular guy walked over and picked it up, put his sweatshirt over it and attempted to calmly walk it to his hotel room, he was plummeted by this cop that was about 300 lbs and started punching him FURIOUSLY in the face. Said cop stands up after dismantling this guys face and screams out for “backup” cause this “fucking hippie” broke his hand—with his face bones! TRUE STORY–I hate nitrous, but this calm guy made ONE bad decision by grabbing an unattended tank and VOILA a story! 
