I drug my feverish ass up out of bed and I decided this is an article that I do not want to lose so I am going to post it here. ;)
Consider this my blog entry for today.
EPD shuts down NYE 'rave'
Four arrested on drug, other charges
Leslie Collins
Editor
Advertisements posted at myspace.com and columbusunderground.com said it was "all about the music," but officers found more than dancing available at a New Year' Eve gathering at one local banquet center.
What local law enforcement officials found early New Year's Day led to the discovery of the "club drug" Ecstasy, cocaine and marijuana, and several arrests.
At 2 a.m. Jan. 1, officers from the Eaton Police Division, working in cooperation with deputies from the Preble County Sheriff's Office, received reports of a "rave" party at the Eaton Banquet Center (the former Grange Hall), located at 501 Nation Ave. in Eaton.
According to EPD Sgt. Chad Depew, upon receiving initial reports, confidential informants were able to enter the party and immediately were approached "by several people with offers to sell" them Ecstasy.
Officials reported, confidential informants were able to make several undercover buys, and the police subsequently raided the party.
Four adults were arrested: Collin Caston, 23, of Miamisburg; Troy Snyder, 20, Dayton; Eric Butler, 22, and Aaron Holbrook, 22, both of Pittsburgh, Pa.
A 17-year-old male from Huber Heights was arrested for curfew violation while attending the rave.
Caston, Butler and Snyder are facing fourth-degree felony charges of trafficking in Ecstasy. Snyder also faces a fifth-degree felony charge of possession of drugs, according to Eaton Municipal Court records. Holbrook faces charges for possession of Ecstasy.
Police Chief Philip Romeo said the scene was everything one would expect a "rave" party to entail.
Laser lights, neon glow sticks, and more mixed with the music - the organizer's advertisement touted "the decor will blow your mind."
The New Year's Eve party in Eaton had been advertised through a promoter out of Hamilton, E Productions.
To entice ticket sales, organizers described the New Year's Eve party: "There will be two visual projection screens; there will be three lasers, two green, one red/green/yellow; there will be a bouncy castle among other surprises!"
According to the advertisement, the party was to be "the sickest N.Y.E. party Ohio has seen in years!"
The majority of those in attendance were from outside Preble County, and even outside Ohio, according to Depew. There were at least 400 people at the banquet center when the party was raided by officials, he said.
"I personally did not see any local faces," Depew said.
Depew explained, officers had "caught wind" of the planned festivities on Saturday, and met with an organizer prior to the party.
"She was cooperative," he said. She advised officials she expected between 200-250 in attendance. According to officials, organizers explained the Eaton location was chosen because it was "cheaper."
Eric Brune of E Productions said there really was no reason the company chose Eaton.
"I just stumbled onto a venue there. I really regret the decision now," Brune commented.
The organizer had contacted the Preble County Sheriff's Office, and paid for security during the event, according to Depew. Officers "checked in" and did a walk-through at the party earlier in the evening prior to the raid.
Brune said E Productions had 10 internal security members at the event, as well as the two off-duty Preble County Sheriff's deputies.
"The off-duty sheriff officers commended us for running a good show," Brune added.
Depew said, when officers entered, and started checking, people just "dumped their stuff." Quantities of cocaine, marijuana and other drug paraphernalia were found once the rave was broken up and the attendees dispersed.
Over 17 officers, including Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers and Preble County Sheriff's officials, worked together during the incident, according to Depew.
"Everybody did a fantastic job," Depew said.
A "rave" is an all-night dance event where DJs and other performers play electronic dance and other music.
While a "rave" party is not in itself illegal, these types of gatherings are frequently venues for the sale and use of "club drugs," according to EPD officials.
In a statement to The Register-Herald, E Productions officials noted:
"We host legal electronic dance music events. We had a legal venue and permits. Our event was ages 18 and up with everyone showing ID. We hired off-duty police officers to oversee door operations and take periodic walks through the party, plus we had a large internal security force that patted down everyone at the front door.
"We did everything in our power to keep bad elements out of our show. The electronic dance music scene is being profiled here. The media and law enforcement agencies have given the 'rave' a horrible stigma. Drugs are a big problem in the United States, no matter what kind of music you listen to. "It is just as easy to obtain Ecstasy at any mainstream concert, nightclub, or high school/college party in America. A team of undercovers would have the same results at one of those as they did at our New Year's Eve event."
Brune said events "three times this size" had been thrown by the company before, and none had ever ended in a raid/shutdown.
Brune also explained his belief EPD's handling of the raid was not fair: "Eaton police used too much force, and unfairly shut down my event, causing harm to my company's reputation. One Eaton officer admitted this was Eaton's 'first rave experience, and perhaps they were too aggressive.'"
Brune continued, "The four arrested deserved to go to jail. The remaining 500 deserved to enjoy the rest of their New Year's celebration. More than half of my patrons were from out of state."
According to Brune, the event organizers have held 14 events like the New Year's Eve show in the past 10 years.
"I'd love to be doing three or four a year," Brune said. "But never in Eaton again."
The investigation into the event continued at press time.
