Over 40 Arrests At Furthur Festival
Angels Camp, CA — The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department reports that over 60 people were arrested during the three day Memorial Day weekend, 41 of which were arrested at the Furthur Festival taking place at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds.
It was an event in tribute to the band the Grateful Dead. Some of the patrons became combative Saturday evening and early Sunday morning. Four Calaveras County Sheriff’s Deputies were injured as was one Angel Camp Police Department Officer.
Here is the complete activity report released by the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department:
The Memorial Day Weekend and concert got off to an early start when a group en route
to the Furthur concert was arrested for trying to rob a local business owner in Valley
Springs. As reported earlier by the Sheriff’s Office the subject arrived at the Valley
Springs Mini Mart on Thursday in a stolen van and attempted to steal alcohol. When
confronted by the business owner a physical altercation took place. When deputies
arrived the suspect continued to be combative and resistant in the store. Five others in
the stolen vehicle were arrested. Five of the subjects resisted arrest. Pepper spray was
used on the two of the suspects. It should be noted 3 of the subjects from this incident
were arrested again for public intoxication later in the weekend.
On late Saturday night and Early Sunday morning Five Calaveras County law
enforcement officers were injured ( Four from the Sheriff s Office one from the Police
Department). Two deputies are still off work due to their injuries. 14 arrests were made
in that same short time late Saturday night and early Sunday morning. Several of those
arrested were combative causing injuries to the officers.
Inside the fairgrounds a mother had overdosed on controlled substances while her 3
year old child was attached to her with a leash type device. Reportedly the child took its
clothes off to get away from her mother. The mother was hospitalized and the child was
taken into protective custody. While at the hospital the mother had to be restrained as
she was combative and attempted to bite and injure hospital staff.
At the fairgrounds parking lot camping area another male reportedly under the influence
of drugs cut his own throat open and was attempting to pull it apart with his own hands.
That subject was flown to a regional hospital for treatment.
A person hit over the head with a blunt object was bleeding and seeking help and
medical attention. When a person tried to report the injury he was threatened by a
concert goer for reportedly being a snitch.
A subject ran his head into the side of a patrol car as a Sergeant was leaving the
fairgrounds. When this subject was contacted he began to fight with the Sergeant and at
one point tried to remove the Sergeants’ firearm from its holster. As he was being taken
into custody a crowd formed around the deputies making threats against the deputies.
A deputy was injured when he and several other deputies responded to assist the concert
security personnel with a concert attendee under the influence of a controlled substance.
This subject attacked a security officer and was subdued by several other security
personnel. The subject continued to resist deputies after being handcuffed and was able
to kick the deputy causing an injury to the deputy’s knee. The subject continued to resist
and behave violently during transportation to the County Jail. During booking this
subject continued to display violent behavior and head butted a correctional officer in
the face causing a minor injury. Additionally the subject was also arrested for
possession for sales of a controlled substance.
Late Sunday night/early Monday morning two Sheriff’s Sergeants were driving through
the parking lot in an All Terrain Vehicle when a subject jumped into the back of the
moving vehicle while yelling that persons were trying to kill him. The subject then
called 9-1-1 and reported he was “surrounded”. The resulting investigation and arrest
resulted in an approximately five minute attempt by 6 deputies to place the combative
subject into a patrol vehicle. The Subject was eventually pepper sprayed.
Shortly after this event, Officers investigated a disturbance in the lower parking area
where nitrous oxide tanks had been seized about one hour prior. When deputies arrived
four additional tanks were seized, and it was noted that hundreds, if not thousands of
empty balloons (common in nitrous oxide use) littered the ground. Persons were in the
area freely inhaling nitrous oxide from balloons. During this investigation a deputy
located marijuana and LSD. One subject was arrested.
Early Sunday morning deputies responded to Hwy 49 outside of the fairgrounds for a
naked male running on the highway banging on vehicles as they drove past. The deputy
who responded had to taser the subject prior to arresting him.
Most of the arrests at the fairgrounds occurred in the parking areas where camping had
been set up. This area was converted into an open air drug market where deputies made
arrests on subjects selling controlled substances including but not limited to psilocybin
mushrooms, LSD, and ecstasy. in addition the Sheriff Office was particularly
concerned as there was a large amount of drug laced food being illegally sold in the
camping areas where children were present. This coupled with several unsupervised
children some under the ages of 7 years old caused concern. Some of the foods seized
were rice crispy treats with M & Ms laced with marijuana; Chocolate covered
psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana brownies, baklava and other foods that would appear
to be appetizing to a child.
Narcotics seized during the event
8.9 grams ketamine (A general anesthetic)
962 grams of psilocybin mushroom and mushroom chocolate
61 ecstasy tabs
2.5 grams of powered ecstasy
30 doses of LSD
6 persons were arrested for narcotics sales to undercover Officers.
All of the above narcotics were seized during undercover activity during the festivaL. It
should be noted all undercover officers were offered (for sale or free), marijuana or
marijuana products numerous times. One undercover officer was given a “free” dose of
LSD from a subject who was later arrested.
The undercover officers were sometimes challenged, and crowds formed as they
escorted those who were being arrested for drug sales from the area.
Contrary to reports of the attendees being peaceful baby boomers from the 60s and 70s
only using marijuana the sheriff s office came into contact with numerous, violent
young adults under the influence of strong drugs with psychotic and aggressive behavior
expressing an anti -government sentiment similar to those subjects who protest G-8
Summits and other anarchist movements. Several people including concert goers
apologized to local law enforcement as they were able to witness the violent reactions
and behavior of some of the festival attendees.
As arrests were made additional deputies had to respond for crowd control purposes as
on lookers continued to threaten and attempt to interfere with law enforcement.
Due to the violent reactions during the arrests, the five injuries to officers and crowd
control the CCSO contacted the Amador County Sheriff s Office; the San Joaquin
County Sheriff s Office and the CHP and requested those agencies standby for Mutual
Aid request. Tuolumne County was not contacted due to their commitment at another
event. It should be noted all off duty Calaveras County Sheriff s deputies as well as
reserve deputies were called in prior to making the request for the mutual aid.
Multiple vehicles were towed as they were parked on the roadways restricting traffic
flow for emergency vehicles.
Prior to the event the Sheriff s Office met with the fairgrounds management and
established the rules for the weekend. Private security was in place throughout the
festival however, the event rules were not followed nor were they being enforced by
security. The Sheriff s Office found several security posts were abandoned for several
hours at a time throughout the event. Numerous contraband items including weapons
and drugs were found on festival goers just after they cleared being searched by
security. Security rules at the gates were inconsistent and this led to numerous subjects
being allowed to enter the area without tickets for the event.
There were a total of 63 persons booked; thirty-five were booked on felony charges,
twenty-eight for misdemeanor charges, primarily for being under the influence of drugs
or alcohol and being unable to care for their safety. Of those arrested, six posted bail,
twenty-six were issued citations, and 31 remain in custody.
The resulting arrests caused the early release of local inmates serving time. There was
481 days underserved time due to these early releases.
During the weekend event, custody staff had to be increased by three additional officers
per shift in order to cover the increased bookings.
Below are the arrest statistics for the weekend:
Arresting Agency Statistics
Calaveras County Sheriff…………. 50
Angels Camp Police Dept……….. 9
California Highway Patrol…………4
Total………………………………………. 63
Arrest Breakdown
Misdemeanor Arrests…………….. 35
Felony Arrests………………………… 28
New Charges………………… 32
New Felony Charges……………. 24
Misc warrants……………………….. 1
Felony Warrants…………………….. 2
Parole Violations…………………….. 2
Court Commitments……………….. 1
Court Remand………………………… 1
Violation Breakdown
Health & Safety Violations (drug)………. 24
All others…………………………………………… 39
Release Statistics
Posted Bail……………………………. 6
Released on Citation……………… 26
Remained in Custody……………… 22
All Other…………………………………. 9
Releases Due to Over Capacity
Cited……………………………………… 6
Felony………………………. 5
Misdemeanor…………….. 1
Underserved days Due to Over Capacity…… 481
Felons……………………….. 2
Misc warrants…… …….15
Arrest Location
Fairgrounds………… …… …… ……. 41
All Other……………………………….. 22
Written by bjhansen@mlode.com.
