[UPDATE] Police to party-goers: ‘don’t go’ to Cedar Fest

Ed. note: Michigan Messenger monitored the Cedar Fest event in East Lansing through Saturday  evening and early Sunday morning. Check back for more updates.

4:19 AM EDT SUNDAY 06-APR-08 –
Police waited over two hours once a large crowd gathered at Cedar and Watersedge. The crowd attacked police as they began to make arrests. Police pulled back at 1:45 am and got into gear. At about 2 am the notice to disperse was given, but the crowd would not move. At 2:07 am Chief Tom Wibert authorized the use of flash bangs and smoke grenades. At 2:17 am he authorized the use of CS gas or tear gas. An unknown number were arrested, but it appears to be well over 50. (Ed. note: We will have photos and more details later on Sunday in a new report.)

9:55 PM EDT –
Police are now going door to door on Cedar Street to rental houses asking people to move off the lawns and indoors.  The concentration of party-goers are now on Water Street.  Officers are now handcuffing a party-goer who took a breathalyzer but ran as the police tried to read the test.

9:41 PM EDT –
East Lansing Police Chief Wibert says the moment of truth will be when the basketball game ends.  Police and DTN’s private security personnel have now gone down Cedar Street twice asking the party-goers to go into buildings; people outside appear to be migrating to Water Street.  We are now watching to see if the party crowd does get worse once the NCAA basketball game ends in approximately one hour and viewers look for other post-game activities.

9:19 PM EDT –
A police vehicle traveling on River Street has been hit with a chunk of asphalt, damaging the hood of the vehicle. Ten officers appear to be looking for the culprit; they have now ordered a partier to empty out a 12-pack of beer. The arrest vehicle — the Ingham County Police van, used to transport those in custody for booking — has pulled up on Water Street. A canine officer is in the arrest vehicle and can be heard barking.  Officers on foot are writing minor in possession and open alcohol citations.

Continued -9:03 PM EDT –
DTN Management, the company that manages the Cedar Village complex, is now asking media to leave the area. Michigan Messenger has an audio recording of a representative of DTN asking WLNS (CBS affiliate in Lansing) to leave. The reason offered by DTN is that the television cameras are escalating the rowdiness of the crowd. (Ed. note: Shouts of “Green” and “White”, MSU’s school colors, can be heard in the background during Todd’s call.)

8:52 PM EDT –
The crowd has now swelled to approximately 2500 and is still peaceful as dark descends. ACLU has 10 observers on the grounds to monitor any potential civil rights violations by police as the activities get more rowdy. The first major injury has occurred at the end of Cedar Street near Watersedge; a person was hit in the head and was bleeding, although police do not know what hit the person in the head. The injured party declined an ambulance.

8:11 PM EDT –
The first arrest of the evening occurred just minutes ago for open intoxication, coincident with sunset in East Lansing. A police lieutenant said that students are still friendly at this point; there are more students out and about on campus than are usually observed on the first fair weekend in spring. (Ed. note: Todd Heywood is calling in his reports at this point; hollering and whooping can be heard in the background.)

7:53 PM EDT –
There are approximately 1500 students and their guests now partying in the Cedar Village area. There is open alcohol, with numerous beer bongs observed. While many of the students are quietly enjoying this first day of real spring weather in middle Michigan, a number of students are already partying raucously. Police are cruising the area, wearing what appears to be riot gear. The situation looks ripe for trouble; it could begin with the end of twilight in about 40 minutes.

6:48 PM EDT EAST LANSING —
The East Lansing Police and Michigan State University officials are warning party-goers who plan to attend a revitalized Cedar Fest tonight, not to bother.

“It’s really simple, don’t go,” said Tom Wibert, chief of the East Lansing Police. “Don’t block streets or sidewalks. Keep moving and avoid large crowds. If you don’t leave an unlawful assembly, ELPD have the legal authority to issue a citation and make arrests if needed.”

Cedar Fest was an 80s gathering of thousands of people in an apartment complex called Cedar Village, which is located just south of the MSU campus. The parties often resulted in fires and other property damage and were eventually banned by the East Lansing City Council. Since then, the city has seen several civil disturbances, in which tear gas and other non-lethal armaments have had to be used.

At about 5 p.m. Cedar Village was active with about 300 college age people hanging out, drinking beer, and playing sports in the middle of the street.

ELPD Lt. Joseph Hinz in a 5:30 interview said the day was progressing very well. “It’s been very normal activity. In fact, it’s been quieter than I would have expected,” he said.

Police said their jail was empty, and as of 5:30 no citations had been issued.

Michigan Messenger will be monitoring the situation all evening.