23 arrests recorded at the Howl

This year criminal behavior at the Howl stayed at about the same level as it has been in the past with 23 party goers being arrested.

Of the arrests 16 were for minors in possession of alcohol (MIP), five for intoxication, one for trespassing and one for disorderly conduct. But only four of the 23 arrests were Utah State students.

“It is the outside students that are responsible for most of the crime at the Howl,” said Steven Milne, USU police captain. “Their intent is to come here to live it up, party, have a good time and then go home.”

Milne said that he thinks that there are a few reasons why there are so many more non-USU students arrested at the Howl.

“Maybe it is because Aggies are more responsible or that they have more pride for their school’s event,” Milne said. “I think it is also because they realize how strict we are on enforcing crimes involving alcohol here.”

While the USU Police Department is in charge of security at the Howl, they get help from the Logan City Police Department and the Utah Highway Patrol. There were at least 28 officers that supervised the Howl with 15 coming from the USU Police, 10 from Logan City and at least three Highway Patrol officers.

“The Logan Police and our department focus on mainly on the venue while Highway Patrol work the streets and the surrounding area around the university,” Milne said. “The idea is to stop alcohol before it gets into the event.”

The majority of the arrests this year were made outside of the venue.

“Those that were arrested were usually at the entrance in line, around the outside perimeter and in the parking lots,” Milne said.

Lieutenant Jeff Simmons of the LCPD had said that he thought that his officers were busier with dealing with criminal activity than in the past few years, but Milne said that this year was very similar to previous Howls.

“I don’t know if we were busier, this one was quite comparable I think,” Milne said. “It’s always a busy night but I wouldn’t say any more so than in the past few years. I think that last year the arrests were also in the 20’s.”

Milne said that each Howl has its own problems that they have to address, this year it was the fact that the event sold out earlier than in previous years.

“Every year has its own unique challenges, this year it was difficult because they sold out sooner,” Milne said. “By selling out sooner people arrived earlier which means we have a full capacity crowd to look over for a longer period of time. By the time everyone got their tickets it was about 10 p.m., when it is usually not until 11 or 11:30.”

The USU Police try to warn people planning on attending the Howl that underage drinking and other criminal behavior will not be tolerated.

“We work with the organizers when they advertise to say that drinking (laws) will be strictly enforced,” Milne said. “We’ll continue to push and send the message out that if you’re planning on drinking this is the last place you want to show up. Your chances of getting caught by all the officers are pretty good. If you want to party hard, don’t come here.”