Pubdate: Thu, 05 Jun 2008
Source: Daily Mail, The (NY)
Copyright: 2008 The Daily Mail
Contact: http://www.thedailymail.net/letters/
Website: http://www.thedailymail.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4783
Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our 
editors may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who 
have not been convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise 
public figures or officials

AUTHORITIES ARREST 84 AT MOUNTAIN JAM

CATSKILL - More than 50 concertgoers were arrested on drug-related 
charges at the Mountain Jam Music Festival held at Hunter Mountain 
over the weekend, according to state police at Catskill and the 
Greene County Sheriff's Office.

The two agencies, working with Hunter Mountain Security, arrested 53 
people on charges ranging from marijuana possession to possession of 
large quantities of narcotics, the sheriff's office and state police 
said Wednesday in a joint statement announcing the arrests.

State police and sheriff's deputies seized large quantities of 
marijuana, hallucinogenic mushrooms, cocaine, heroin, crystal meth, 
LSD, Ecstasy, hashish, hydrocodone and other illegal prescription 
medications, according to the joint statement.

"It's not just the amount of drugs these individuals attempt to 
smuggle into the event, but the type of drugs as well," said Greene 
County Sheriff Greg Seeley. "While marijuana is certainly the most 
prevalent, prescription narcotics and hardcore street drugs are also 
very common at the event."

In addition to the drug arrests, a New England man was arrested on 
assault charges stemming from an altercation with security staff.

Authorities said [name redacted], 22, of New London, Vt., was charged 
by state police with two counts of second-degree assault and 
third-degree and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled 
substance, all felonies, and numerous misdemeanor charges including 
resisting arrest, menacing and criminal possession of a weapon. [name 
redacted] was arraigned in Hunter Town Court and sent to the Greene 
County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.

In addition to [name redacted], the Greene County Sheriff's 
Department held more than 30 people in the Greene County Jail on 
arrests at the concert.

"Mountain Jam is the largest music festival in the Northeast and it 
attracted nearly 40,000 people this year. It's a great opportunity 
for visitors from across the country to see all that the Mountaintop 
has to offer," Seeley said.

"The vast majority of those in attendance are law-abiding and come to 
enjoy the music and the festivities. Unfortunately there are those 
who choose to abuse the event as a venue to use and distribute 
illegal drugs. These individuals are not welcome in Greene County and 
they will be arrested," the sheriff added.

State police said that the cooperation during the event was another 
example of how law enforcement agencies in Greene County work 
together, in an exemplary manner, to provide Greene County residents 
safer communities and venues, such as the Mountain Jam Music Festival.

State police and the Greene County Sheriff's Department were assisted 
during the arrests by Greene County District Attorney Terry J. 
Wilhelm and his office.

Mountain Jam featured performances by nearly two dozen bands 
headlined by Gov't Mule, Bob Weir and RatDog, Drive-By Truckers and 
Citizen Cope.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom