The holiday weekend that police feared might bring out the worst in students proved busy but manageable for officers patrolling the campus area.
On Halloween night in Eugene 1998, a riot broke out on East 14th Avenue and Ferry Street after partyers filled the streets and proceeded to destroy street signs and throw objects including rocks and bottles at police officers. Riot officers arrived and ended the chaos, arresting 35 people and charging others they identified later.
Eleven years later on Saturday night, Eugene police prepared for the worst as it was the first time that Halloween has fallen on Saturday since that riot, and with the Ducks’ historic football win over the University of Southern California, authorities were geared up for anything. The Eugene Police Department teamed up with Oregon State Police, equipped with riot gear and officers from Salem and Portland, to prevent another possible outbreak.
But nothing over the weekend required riot gear.
EPD is deeming this weekend a success, although there were 147 minor in possession counts, 165 open container citations and four kegs seized.
Saturday night started slowly for police. It wasn’t until midnight that officers faced their biggest crowd-control task when a large group of people on East 14th Avenue near Patterson Street took their party into the street. EPD and OSP cleared the group without conflict, police reported in a press release.
EPD received 254 calls for service between the hours of 9 p.m. and 3 a.m., a slight increase from last year’s number of 242.
Alcohol-related violations presented the largest concern to police over the weekend, including incidents involving fake identification cards, giving false information to a police officer, furnishing alcohol to a minor and carrying an open container in public.
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