This weekend’s calm Oak and Mill fests garnered similar arrest numbers to last year — but twice as many were apprehended at Palmer and Palmer Place fests.
The difference between weekends failed to surprise local officials in part because of the widespread layout of Mill Street.
“Mill Fest is always milder, which is a good thing,” Mayor Paul Wiehl said.
In total, Athens Police and undercover agents with the Ohio Investigative Unit made 58 arrests last weekend, a number just slightly up from the 57 made last year, according to documents from the two departments.
At least 33 of those arrested last weekend — roughly 56 percent — were Ohio University students.
In total, Athens Police made 9 arrests — all at Mill Fest — while the investigative unit made 49 arrests — 11 on Friday and 38 on Saturday.
The most common charges during the weekend were underage consumption and public intoxication, according to arrest documents.
Law enforcement officials made 57 arrests at High Fest earlier this year.
Palmer and Palmer Place resulted in 124 arrests — more than twice the tallies of Oak and Mill.
Though the layout of Mill Street inherently makes its fest calmer than Palmer and Palmer Place fests, Wiehl said help from OU volunteers were a contributor as well.
About 200 OU volunteers patrolled Mill on Saturday as part of the “Green Team” in exchange for $50 of Bobcat Cash.
Though the university spent about $13,000 on Mill Fest safety, Dean of Students Ryan Lombardi said the money was well worth it.
“It’s such a hard question — don’t get me wrong; I would rather not have to spend the money,” Lombardi said. “But at the same token, if that prevents an injury, an assault, a death … then it’s clearly worth it.”
Though he could not be sure the Green Team was directly responsible for the tameness of Mill Fest, Lombardi said the presence of OU students and faculty was beneficial.
“They were really just a presence — a sober, good, positive presence,” Lombardi said. “I was really impressed.”
It has not been decided whether the Green Team will be used for future fests, Lombardi said.
rc348710@ohiou.edu
