Western Courier

Issue date: 5/3/06 Section: News

After receiving a noise complaint, officers arrived at Charles and Orchard streets to break up a large crowd of approximately 150 people.

A student collapsed at a keg race party during the weekend after police officers used peper spray in attempt to control the crowd. For full video of the event, visit www.benhellerhomes.com/Macomb_Mayhem.html.

A police raid halted an annual tradition Saturday afternoon in Macomb. Western Illinois University students and alumni gathered Saturday to hold an annual "keg race" at a residence on the corner of Charles and Orchard streets. Police reported there were approximately 150 people at the party.

The incident started when police stopped a student, Ryan M. Struck, 19, of Quincy, for drinking in the middle of the road. According to attendees, police then noticed the large gathering and began asking people what they were doing.

"When we told them what we were doing, they asked everyone to leave," said Kevin Gallagher, Western alumnus who was visiting for the annual race. "When we asked why as we approached the officer, he told everyone to back up or he would mace the crowd. About two seconds later he began spraying the crowd."

During the pepper spraying, a Western student began to have an asthma attack.

"She had asthma, so I provided my inhaler to use because the police would not call an ambulance at first," Gallagher said.

Deputy Chief Curt Barker said the police used the methods they deemed necessary and he added they sprayed the ground.

"When you have that large number of people, approximately 150, and only a couple of officers, they need to use the means necessary to control the situation," Barker said.

In response to the woman who collapsed, Barker, who was not an officer on the scene, as none were available for comment, said, "Supposedly she was having an asthma attack, but she was fine. (It is not determined) whether or not she was reacting to the pepper spray or was just excited about the whole ordeal."

But video proof of the incident would suggest otherwise. The asthmatic female appears in distress and to console her, a female officer admitted she also got pepper spray in her eyes.

According to Barker, the pepper spray was used to keep people back who were attempting to seize the kegs.

"They were chanting at the officers and trying to remove tappers and the kegs before officers could take them," Barker said.

"It was ridiculous," said graduate student Josh Miller. "There was no violence, no fights and they treated it like a riot.

"Over 90 percent of the people there were of age," Miller said. "We did not understand how they could take our kegs; we are legal."

According to Barker, the police responded to a noise complaint and called for backup from the state police as well. He said the kegs were confiscated for use as evidence.

After that they are given to the liquor store and it was up to them to decide from there where the kegs' deposit money will go.

"Anytime we have a loud party complaint and there are underage (people) the kegs are taken (and) used for evidence," Barker said.

Police say they were called to the house on a noise complaint, but Miller claims there was not music loud enough to merit a complaint, "especially at four in the afternoon," Miller said.

In total, the police confiscated 11 kegs and 11 tappers and made everybody leave the party. According to West Pierce Liquors, when police confiscate kegs and tappers there is an agreement between the store and the police department to donate the money from deposits to the DARE Program.

Daytime manager of the liquor store Gwen Mangieri said this is a long-standing policy.

"We're not trying to be shady and not return money to the students, but this has been a policy with us for a long time," Mangieri said.

Mangieri added West Pierce is willing to make an exception to the policy and let the students come in and pick up their deposit money. She said that it might be difficult for the students to get it back, however, because there were several members of the party who went to the store on Saturday and received their deposit back.

"There will be a problem with this because some kids came in on Saturday and already got reimbursed," she said.

"Our employees (working at the time) did not know the policy that once kegs are confiscated they become police property. Deposits become a donation to DARE," Mangeri added.

Barker added this situation goes right along with the keg sales proposition proposed by the Community University Partnership Program which, if passed, will require a special keg permit for events such as a wedding. Although CUPP is attempting to curb fighting on campus, Barker said he feels the altercation would have been a lot less dramatic.

"There were no fights. However, referring to the keg ban, if there were a special events permit we would be able to tell the people about noise complaints beforehand. As long as no one complains, you're fine," Barker said.

To view videos of the incident, visit www.benhellerhomes.com/Macomb_Mayhem.html.

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