Park owner plans to file complaint over remarks

The park owner objects to statements made by a local law enforcement official.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- The owner of Yellow Duck Park will file a formal complaint about comments he says a local law enforcement official made to the press.
Len McGarvey objects to statements that he says Maj. Michael Budd of the Mahoning County Sheriff's Department made about a recent all-night music festival at the park.
McGarvey said Budd told television news stations that drug arrests were made at the party.
No such arrests were made.
Budd would not comment about the matter.
"It's just unbelievable the things that he said," McGarvey said. "I can't imagine where he got that or what his motive may be."
McGarvey said that he will file a formal complaint with the sheriff's department today and that he wants the department to issue an apology to the park and to those who attended the party.
Internet advertisement: The all-night party was from 8:30 p.m. Saturday until 6:30 a.m. Sunday. An advertisement for the party was listed on an Internet calendar for raves, all-night dance parties typically characterized by booming techno music and recreational drug use.
According to the advertisement, the event included performances by eight electronic musicians, as well as a heated slide and pool. The phone number for Yellow Duck Park was listed as the "Infoline" for the party.
McGarvey said he does not know who posted the advertisement. However, he stressed that, "to my knowledge, nobody here has ever used that term [rave]."
McGarvey said the park made up fliers advertising the dance, which included adults and featured a campfire and water slide.
No backpacks were allowed, and purses were searched to ensure that nothing illegal got in, he said.
More than 500 people attended the dance, he said.
Traffic stops: County deputy sheriffs and state troopers made about 90 traffic stops on state Route 46 outside of the park during the event. Budd has said that law enforcement officials were concerned about possible illegal drug use at the party, as well as traffic tie-ups.
McGarvey said he thinks the sheriff's department was "greatly overreacting" by stopping so many people near the event.
Troopers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol at Canfield arrested a 31-year-old Columbiana man during one of the traffic stops on charges of possession of marijuana and driving under the influence
The man told the troopers that he was going to the party.
hill@vindy.com