Pubdate: Wed, 27 Jun 2001
Source: Casper Star-Tribune (WY)
Copyright: 2001 Casper Star-Tribune
Contact:  http://www.trib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/765

366 CARS STOPPED, 80 CHARGED DURING RAVE

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - Representatives of several law enforcement agencies 
said their large-scale presence at a techno music show south of town was 
justified.

Between 3,000 and 4,000 people attended the event at the Terry Bison Ranch. 
Eighty-three law-enforcement officers were among the 132 public safety 
officials on hand.

At a press conference Tuesday, representatives of the Laramie County 
Sheriff's Office, state Division of Criminal Investigation and other 
agenices said 366 cars were stopped and 80 people were charged with drug 
crimes.

Felony drug charges were filed against six people.

"People need to ask themselves, if we had done nothing whatsoever, what 
could have happened?" said Steve Miller, deputy director of the DCI.

He said "exactly the right amount" of officials were there.

Plans for the concert drew considerable attention over the previous week. 
DCI Director Tom Pagel said the show would be a rave, where drugs like 
ecstasy commonly mix with techno music and all-night dancing.

Gov. Jim Geringer spoke against allowing such a gathering in Wyoming.

All told, though, few problems arose and police patted themselves on the back.

"We were very pleased with the outcome of the rave concert," Laramie County 
Sheriff Roger Allsop said.

Throughout the day at or near the ranch, police stopped people with 
ecstasy, LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana, cocaine, morphine and 
ketamine, according to Miller.

Highway Patrol Sgt. Stephen Thompson said every vehicle stopped had 
violated a state law. The patrol issued 93 citations and 273 warnings.

Allsop felt the number of stops was normal.

"I don't think it was like they were stopping every car coming down the 
road," he said. "When you look at the percentage ... I don't know that I 
would find the number of stops out there all that unusual."

Miller said about 95 percent of the cars were from Colorado.

After dark, one man who was apparently under arrest sat in the parking lot 
in handcuffs while officers searched his car and placed some of its 
contents on the trunk.

A Cheyenne police officer with a drug dog talked to another group in the 
lot. Other officers nearby peeked into car windows with a flashlight, 
apparently at random.

"That was not done to every vehicle in the parking lot," Miller said. "No 
one had enough time for that. We were focusing our efforts on suspicious 
activity."

Those patrolling the event included 25 Laramie County Sheriff's officers, 
22 Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers, 12 Cheyenne police officers, six 
Division of Criminal Investigation agents, four U.S. Drug Enforcement 
Administration agents and two Platte County Sheriff's officers.

There were also 12 military police and, just over the state line, 19 
Colorado State Patrol troopers. Numerous firefighters and paramedics were 
on the scene as well.

Miller said "a fair but firm governmental response" can be expected at such 
events in the future.
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