Lots of people, no arrests downtown over St. Pat’s Day

Lots of people, no arrests downtown over St. Pat’s Day

YOUNGSTOWN

The crowd at downtown’s St. Patrick’s Day Dash was significantly greater than anticipated and chaotic at times, but police reported no arrests.

Saturday’s dash brought about 3,000 people downtown; the event attracted about 1,000 last year, said Lyndsey Hughes, the city’s downtown director of events, special projects and marketing.

“I got really nervous and called” Police Chief Rod Foley, Hughes said.

“What got me nervous was seeing open containers,” Hughes added.

Foley said he had to call in the department’s vice squad because officers “had a hard time keeping [people] in the [outdoor] liquor location.”

That location was on North Phelps Street between West Federal and West Commerce streets, Hughes said.

But after the vice squad arrived, the issue was resolved, Foley said. No arrests were made, he said.

“I have not heard one complaint” about the event, Hughes added. “It was a very successful event.”