Mardi Gras arrests higher this year than 2010 event
USU police officers issued three arrest citations and gave medical assistance to a pregnant woman complaining of possible labor pains on Saturday night during the Mardi Gras Celebration in the TSC.
Sgt. Jessica Elder of the USU Police said they expected to see around 3,500 people – the same as last year – but the actual turnout was about 800 people below that.
“We didn’t have any arrests last year,” Elder said. “Last year was the most toned-down year we’ve had for Mardi Gras since I’ve been here.”
Saturday night around 1 a.m., Michael Christoffersen, 22, received a citation for intoxication after he blew a .089 on a breathalyzer test – just over the legal limit. Elder said anyone who has been drinking can be charged with intoxication if they pose a potential threat to themselves or someone else.
Christoffersen, who recently returned to Logan from Iowa, said he was excited to hang out with his friends. He said he was not a student at USU and originally told police he had not been drinking.
“I was keeping an eye on him because I knew he was drunk, I could smell it, I could tell,” said Matt Ward, who was working as an event volunteer for the music deejay. Ward said he is also a part-time officer for Logan City Police.
Ward said Christoffersen climbed onto the stage about five times and started dancing. Each time he got on stage he was asked to get down to avoid damaging expensive equipment. Ward said he finally told the police, who escorted Christoffersen to their command center in the student services office.
Elder said Christoffersen was close to getting put in handcuffs and taken to Cache County Jail for his insistent, belligerent arguing with the officers, which lasted almost 30 minutes.
“He thinks that it’s comical that he’s been told five times, and he talks about how he’s not used to following rules and things like that,” Elder said. “That tells you what his state of mind is.”
One male student who was under 21 was arrested by Officer Kent Harris for underage drinking, or minor-in-possession (MIP), after blowing .140 on the breathalyzer. His female cousin, who was 24, was arrested for supplying alcohol to a minor after admitting she bought the alcohol her cousin drank.
Harris said the two cousins were seen trying to leave the event from an unauthorized exit and the woman appeared to be holding the man up. When he got closer to explain which exit to use, Harris said he could smell alcohol on his breath.
“So we had three alcohol arrests this year. Alcohol is always going to be our problem, our battle at these kinds of events, people causing trouble,” Elder said. “But overall, nobody’s hurt or injured, so it seems like a pretty decent night.”
A handful of warnings were issued throughout the night both in the Fieldhouse and the TSC for rowdiness. Officers Joe Huish and Sutton Hanzalik gave chase to a few men who were moshing in the crowd on the dance floor in the Sunburst Lounge.
Hanzalik said a couple of guys wearing blazers, who were asked by event staff to stop pushing and shoving, started running when they saw the cops approaching them.
“Me and Joe, we put the old-school speed on and caught them,” Hanzalik said. “We didn’t smell any alcohol on them, so we gave them a warning. What are you going to charge them for?”
Huish said the men came from Salt Lake City to attend the event and told police they were not students at USU.
Officers Andy Barnes and Jarred Glover both chased a man who was seen talking on his cell phone outdoors by the parking terrace. Barnes said the man was acting suspicious and then took off running.
When questioned, Barnes said the man started running because his friends told him to hurry up and meet them inside.
“We want the kids to have fun, and our main purpose is of the students’ safety,” Officer Lee Gillenwater said. “Then you always got some that are going to run you around in a circle.”
Gillenwater, who was stationed in the Fieldhouse throughout the night, said he saw several people who were exhibiting signs of alcohol use. He said he warned a couple of people, but most were acting responsibly.
The Fieldhouse was set up with casino-style gambling tables which entertained several attendees. Inside the TSC in there was a “mentalist,” fortune tellers, psychics and a freak show.
The 25-year-old pregnant woman approached the cops complaining of lower abdominal and back pain, and was seen by paramedics. She then called her husband to take her to the hospital. The woman said she was eight months pregnant.
– dan.whitney.smith@aggiemail.usu.edu