Updated Monday, March 7 at 3:05 with information about DUI/DWI
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department says it was an average year for arrests at the Mardi Gras celebration in Soulard.
Law enforcement officials arrested or cited 83 people on 89 different charges over the weekend. They broke down like this:
- 67 minors in possession (underage drinking).
- 1 bartering/trading. The department says an adult gave her photo I.D. to an underage drinker. Both the adult and the minor were caught.
- 4 arrests for DUI/DWI
- 4 assaults.
- 2 assaults on a law enforcement officer. The commander of the Soulard detail, Jerry Leyshock, says individuals attempted to interfere as their friends were arrested for underage drinking, and struck officers in the ensuing scuffle. The officers were not seriously injured.
- 3 resisting arrests.
- 1 interfering with an arrest.
- 6 peace disturbances. An SLMPD spokeswoman says these citations are usually issued to people who do not calm down when asked to stop yelling.
- 1 count of "exposing person." The spokeswoman did not know if this involved public urination or an individual engaged in an attempt to get Mardi Gras beads.
- 4 counts of public urination.
- 6 cars were towed from the parade route.
The department says a woman reported having her purse stolen, but the investigation was hampered because the crime was not reported for more than an hour. No suspects have been identified.
"I will tell you that it was a really nice crowd, and for the most part it's been really peaceful," Capt. Leyshock said. "I think people have enjoyed themselves."
Leyshock says paramedics were busy responding to people who were injured while falling, but had no reports of anyone who was seriously hurt.
Last year, law enforcement filed 99 charges - 48 for underage drinking.
