Reward Offered for Tips Leading to Arrests in ‘Earth, Wind & Fire’ Riot

lundi 23 août 2010

Aug 23 (THAINDIAN NEWS) The authorities are offering a reward for any tips which lead to the arrest of rioters who were involved in the ‘Earth Wind and Fire’ concert riots which occurred over the weekend at Fort Collins.

In a press release which was issued today (Monday), Former Fort Collins Mayor Ray Martinez who is now a member of the board of Crime Stoppers stated; “Crime Stoppers of Larimer County will pay money for tips that lead to the arrest of those people who were participating in the riot this past weekend in downtown Fort Collins.”

Martinez suggested that the police could be posting video footage and photos of the events on the Internet, which ma help the public to identify those people who were involved in the crimes. So far, however, the police have refused to release the images and video, since it is still on ongoing investigation.

At least fourteen people were injured when three fights broke out which led to a huge riot involving around 400 people. Bottles were thrown at police, cars were damaged, store windows were shattered, and fires were set as the riot progressed after the concert had ended. “This is more than ‘just a riot’ or an ‘over-sized party. It is a crime,” Martinez wrote. “We believe that when people are held accountable they are less likely to repeat their behavior.”

“It is a crime to destroy property. It is a crime to arbitrarily assault people. It is a crime to refuse to follow lawful orders of the police. And it is a crime to intimidate people,” he went on to say. The riot lasted several hours, and caused great damage to stores, cars, and vendor tents which were burned and broken. Some onlookers were thrown through shop windows and seriously injured.

After patio furniture and bottles were thrown at police officers, they warned the crowds to disperse several times. After the rioters failed to stop, the police were forced to bring in tear gas, and pepper spray in order to calm the situation.

Anyone who has any information can call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 970-221-6868, where they will receive a secret ID number so that they can make a reward claim. Tips can also be left on the webpage at http://www.StopCriminals.org.

Photos, video helping Fort Collins Police investigate riot

KDVR Denver

August 23, 2010

FORT COLLINS – Fort Collins Police are reviewing numerous videos and photos of Sunday morning’s riot in Old Town Square that ended with the SWAT team firing tear gas and pepper balls into a crowd.Felony charges are expected. Police say many of the 400 people involved in what they called « riotous behavior » had been drinking for several hours before heading to bars and drinking more, which led to the first fight inside a bar that spilled into the street. At least five people have been cited for misdemeanor charges but police expect to file felony charges as they identify the worst offenders in video taken from YouTube, their own surveillance cameras, and still pictures. »We have been receiving video and photographs and information from the public and we certainly encourage people to continue to provide us with information about who some of the participants may be, » said Fort Collins Police spokeswoman Rita Davis. Half a dozen people were injured, including two people who went through a plate glass window at Santa Fe Craftsman, whom police say they had trouble rescuing because of the crowd. As some hurled beer bottles and other objects at police, officers tried to disperse the crowd with pepper balls and tear gas. »We’d break up one fight…it would go to another location. Other fights would break out and we had multiple activities occurring, » said Davis. « What we ended up doing was trying to disperse that activity. »Are you going to get criticism? You may, however we have the ultimate responsibility to protect everyone. »Downtown business owners say events like the New West Fest are their bread and butter and hope the riot won’t discourage future events. »To let two percent, or three or four people ruin it for the vast majority of people that really enjoy Fort Collins is letting the tail wag the dog, » said Bob Criswell, owner of the store with the smashed window. »I think that it really hurts the businesses if we don’t have events continued downtown, » said Kirk Silos, general manager of Enzio’s Italian Kitchen. »People should be held accountable for their actions and I think that would have a great ripple effect on the future, » said Lindsey Corcoran, who markets several businesses in the downtown area.Police say they will not be releasing their own surveillance videos of any criminal activity right now because they consider it evidence in the cases.Anyone with information is asked to contact the Fort Collins Police Services division.

Hundreds Rioted In Fort Collins This Weekend

thedenverchannel.com/

Crowd Causes Significant Damage At NewWestFest

22 août 2010

FORT COLLINS — Hundreds of people rioted in Old Town Fort Collins early Sunday morning, causing damage at NewWestFest.

Rita Davis, spokeswoman for the Fort Collins Police Department, said the riot lasted several hours and caused significant damage to some businesses and vendor booths.

According to Davis, the crowd began getting out of control at around 1 a.m. near College and Mountain avenues. Davis said people in the crowd threw beer bottles, patio furniture and other objects at officers.

« I did see bottles being thrown. That was after they started shooting into the crowd, » said Desiree Street, who said she had just gotten off work when the rioting began.

After being warned multiple times to disperse, Davis said SWAT members were brought in and tear gas and pepper spray were utilized to cow the crowd into order.

They had their air soft guns with the pepper spray in them, » said Street. « My boyfriend got pepper-sprayed just standing right next to me. »

« We’re interested in protecting people who might be in the area and aren’t involved in the riot. We’re interested in protecting property and preventing property damage from occurring, » said Officer Bob Younger. « Using a less lethal option like that is a good way of managing the crowd and preventing any serious injury or damage to occur. »

However, damage and injury did occur.

The windows at Santa Fe Craftsman were boarded up Sunday after two people were thrown through the glass.

« I kind of pulled out what I could tell was salvageable, » said store owner Bob Chriswell.

Chriswell said he lost at least a thousand dollars in broken pottery.

« There’s (also) loss of business, because people can’t see into my store. The window is my advertising, » he said. « It’s an unfortunate thing and I want them to pay for it if I could, but no, I’m not really angry, I don’t think. I’m kind of sad. »

« Fort Collins is not that kind of town. It’s not a riot kind of town, » he added.

Police said the last riot of this scale in Fort Collins was six years ago near the Colorado State University campus after a series of off-campus parties of returning college students got out of control.

The NewWestFest is the largest festival in Northern Colorado. The festival runs through Sunday and activities were scheduled to go on as planned.

Crowd Riots in Colorado After Concert By … Earth, Wind & Fire?

entertainment.gather.com

August 23, 2010 0

Throwing people through windows and burning down vendors’ tents may sound like something that would occur at an MDC reunion show, but it actually took place after a concert by noted non-agitators Earth, Wind & Fire in Fort Collins, CO over the weekend.

« Part of the sizzle of being downtown is the unexpected. That’s what makes it exciting, » quoth Santa Fe Craftsman store owner Bob Criswell to The Coloradoan. Two people were thrown through the store’s window, with Criswell estimating damages at $3,000. Pretty exciting indeed!

All told, 13 people were treated for injuries after the EWF show, part of the « Bohemian Nights at NewWestFest » in Old Town Fort Collins. A total estimate for damages was not immediately available.

The Downtown Business Association issued a statement calling the unrest, which involved about 400 people and eventually led to police using tear gas on the crowd,  « not a true representation of the safe and enjoyable environment that the community has come to know. »

Maybe not, but try selling that line to the town’s Fine and Funky store, and charity Mariah’s Kids, whose fundraising booth was burned down, resulting in the destruction of what one volunteer called « thousands and thousands of dollars of purses, scarves and accessories. » Fine and Funky partnered with Mariah’s Kids to raise money for a program pairing at-risk teens with horses that need a second chance.

An official reason for the riot has yet to be announced, though it appears to simply be the result of thousands of inebriated and/or bored folks wandering about after the concert, looking for something to do. Three separate « disturbances » broke out at about 1 a.m. on Sunday, according to police.

Informations

Fort Collins est la plus grande ville du comté de Larimer, dans l’État du Colorado, aux États-Unis. Elle est située sur la rivière Cache La Poudre. Elle abrite notamment l’Université d’État du Colorado.

~ par Alain Bertho sur 23 août 2010.

Publié dans émeutes, riots