Police Arrest 53 At Rage Concert Deputies, State Patrol Busy At Gorge With Drug And Alcohol Offenses

Grant County sheriff’s deputies, with help from the State Patrol and officers from surrounding counties, made 53 arrests Friday night at a rock concert authorities had tried to stop.

Deputies at the concert by Rage Against the Machine and two other bands made arrests for offenses including being a minor in possession of alcohol, drug possession and trespassing, Sheriff Bill Wiester said.

Undersheriff Michael Shay said the large number of officers outside the Gorge Amphitheatre and private security inside helped limit problems and sent a message that drinking and drugs won’t be tolerated at the site.

Those arrested were handcuffed and taken to the county jail in Ephrata, about 25 miles northeast of the amphitheater. Some were held in a tent jail near the main lockup. All those arrested were expected to make court appearances Saturday.

The opening band, Atari Teen-age Riot, took the stage shortly after 7 p.m. and denounced Wiester’s unsuccessful effort to win a court order to cancel the show.

“They tried to stop us; We’re going to stop them,” a band member yelled at the end of a set, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Concert-goers began to leave at about 10:30 p.m.

Prior to the show, the parking lot was a mellow scene of people with bright red-, orange- and normal-colored hair throwing frisbees, eating and lining up for restrooms. There was little sign of alcohol or drug use.

Some concert-goers were upset with authorities’ efforts to prevent Rage Against the Machine from playing.

“These are the issues they write their music on,” said Robert Hazen of Seattle. “They are singing about what is happening now.”

Private security guards prevented reporters from getting onto the concert grounds. They said reporters could attend the show but could not interview people and take notes. Television cameras also were excluded from the venue.

Shay said the concert promoter had doubled its normal security staff to 240 inside the amphitheater.

Fifty law enforcement officers from other jurisdictions bolstered Grant County deputies and private security. Before the concert, Wiester had promised authorities would enforce a “no tolerance” policy for criminal behavior.

The concert promoter, Universal Concerts Inc., has declined to comment on the controversy.

Wiester tried to halt the concert, saying he feared rioting and rampant drug use.

On Wednesday, Superior Court Judge Kenneth Jorgensen denied the request, saying he could not cancel the event unless there were evidence a riot was likely at the amphitheater 150 miles east of Seattle.

The Gorge site holds 18,500 people. Sprawling, rural Grant County has only 68,000 residents.

Rage Against the Machine’s brand of rock-rap features angry lyrics that strike out against the American government and perceived social injustices.

xxxx