There were fewer arrests during the annual Athens Halloween Block Party on Saturday than there were last year, a fact that perhaps underscores the feeling of relative “tameness” during the event.
Athens police and undercover state agents arrested 100 people Saturday, according to authorities, and partygoers packed the areas near the South and North stages — and just about everywhere in between — on Court Street for live music throughout the night.
Still, initial reports from law enforcement seem to suggest that this year’s bash was calmer than previous years.
Athens Police made 45 arrests Saturday, down from the 49 arrests made last year. But the department is also investigating a vehicle that was flipped over by pedestrians Saturday, an incident APD Chief Tom Pyle called a “random act of vandalism.”
Undercover agents arrested 55, according to a tweet from the Ohio Investigative Unit. That’s a 25 percent decrease from the 74 arrests the unit made in 2012.
The arrests this year from the unit included “underage, furnishing, fake ID, resisting, obstructing, drug charges,” the tweet read.
Data made available Sunday might also dispel the idea that Ohio University students behave better during Halloween than out-of-town college students do.
Athens Police arrested 13 OU students during the Court Street bash — the same number of out-of-town students arrested.
But Big Mamma’s Burritos, 10 S. Court Street, shut its doors for business at 11 p.m., slapping a sign on its doors explaining that the establishment felt as though out-of-towners would have damaged the property.
On the contrary, Mike Johnson, owner of Mike’s Dog Shack, 20 S. Court Street, said he’s seen a huge increase in sales this year compared to when he opened his store in 2007.
Several city officials said the night was much easier than they had expected it to be.
“The Miami vs. Ohio game didn’t really affect the block party as much as we thought it may,” said Ron Lucas, Athens’ deputy service safety director.
Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl said that overall, it seemed to be a peaceful night for law enforcement.
“The people are having a good time and they’re safe,” he said. “That’s all that’s important.”
The Athens Fire Department had no calls for service and no major fire-related events that were reported. However, the Athens County Emergency Medical Services responded to 53 calls for service, according to the city news release.
The City of Athens Safety Team comprised 14 volunteers and was on patrol from 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
About 100 OU faculty and administrators also patrolled as part of the Green Jacket program until 2 a.m., with each member earning a $50 gift card to Baker University Center.
“Any time you make it through without serious incidents is good, but it’s relative. … When you look at the bigger picture it could’ve been worse,” said Ryan Lombardi, vice president for student affairs, who patrolled alongside OU President Roderick McDavis.
jj360410@ohiou.edu
— Cassie Kelly, Allan Smith, Jordan Stickle, Emma Ockerman, Xander Zellner and Sara Jerde contributed to this report.
