Wild Rivers Park Shut Down After All-Night Concert Turns Violent
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IRVINE — An amusement park rented for an all-night “battle of the bands” was shut down early Sunday by police, who said the organizer had not hired enough security guards to control the rowdy crowds.
Sgt. Ron Flathers described confusion and violence at the Wild Rivers water park, and said Irvine police never entered the park for fear of provoking more violence.
He said one person in the crowd of about 3,200 was pistol-whipped, and a gun was held to the head of a security guard as unticketed party-goers ran through gates. Two people were dropped off at a local hospital for LSD overdoses, he said, and a van was torched by youths who were turned away at the gate.
“It’s amazing, the fact that it didn’t erupt,” Flathers said. “The potential was there.”
A private promoter advertised the event on the radio but didn’t have enough guards, Flathers said. Police did not have estimates of the number of people injured.
Officers tried to shut down the park at 3 a.m., but it took two hours. The party had been scheduled to end at 6 a.m.
Flathers said the department planned to bill the promoter for officers’ overtime, but did not anticipate any criminal charges.
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