East Lansing - Police are sorting out the damage caused by what they characterized as a riot near Michigan State University over the weekend.
East Lansing police say information will be gathered from landlords and businesses in the area of Cedar Village before making a damage estimate. About 3,000 to 4,000 people gathered in the area for a party that turned ugly and was broken up by tear gas early Sunday after police were pelted with bottles and rocks.
Police reported 52 arrests. That number could be revised later today. Those arrested could face charges ranging from disorderly conduct to inciting a riot.
Thirteen rounds of tear gas were fired on riotous young people partying at Cedar Village, which police officials compared with 299 rounds used during a 2005 disturbance in the same area.
Police Chief Tom Wibert said he had no choice but to use the tear gas after the crowd threw too many rocks, bricks and bottles.
Efforts to calm the melee with smoke grenades and "flash bangs" that have an effect similar to large firecrackers already had failed.
"At 2:15 a.m., I authorized the use of tear gas on the crowd," Wibert said during a Sunday morning news conference at City Hall. "We use tear gas as a last resort, and we went through a lot of steps. We showed a lot of restraint.
"After the initial munitions - the 'flash bangs' and the smoke bombs, they were actually chanting for tear gas."
Some students heard the chants, as well. Ashley Pixley, 21, a Lansing Community College student who lives on campus with her fiance, said she heard revelers chanting "We want tear gas! We want tear gas!"
"I almost think the cops instigated it to an extent," said Craig Huntsman, an MSU junior who added that he and his roommate visited Cedar Village over the weekend. Around 9 p.m., he started to witness police officers pulling revelers from the street.
Then, the ticketing started. "I think that sort of upset people," Huntsman said.
While disagreements from the weekend linger, court dates loom. According to Wibert, the 52 arrested could begin to appear in 54B District Court today. The same goes for those who received the 48 tickets written for offenses that included illegal alcohol use.
Police and city officials said Sunday they are intent on pursuing fair convictions that could lead to young adults being fined, spending time behind bars, getting suspended from MSU, and being unable to enroll at any other public institution of higher learning in the state.
"The East Lansing City Council fully supports the application of whatever resources are necessary to aggressively prosecute those involved," Mayor Vic Loomis said.
Loomis, who was at the East Lansing Police Department's command center, said he listened to radio traffic as a peaceful gathering at the corner of Cedar Street and Waters Edge Drive began to turn ugly after 1 a.m. Sunday. "The chief knew," Loomis said of Wibert. "He couldn't just sit back passively."
Peaceful enjoyment of a beautiful spring day turned to a dangerous gathering. Nearly every police officer reported being struck by thrown objects, according to Wibert. While no officer required hospital treatment, Wibert said the East Lansing Fire Department made 14 rescue runs to the Cedar Village area.
East Lansing police said they were certain Sunday that a few youths were transported to the hospital. Bob Pratt, East Lansing's fire marshal, could not provide the number of runs. He said the fire department received 36 calls for service from throughout the city between 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 5 a.m. Sunday. Thirty-one were medical.
Pratt said that East Lansing tended to 28 of the medical cases and got help from Meridian Township for the other three. Several, Pratt said, were caused by thrown bottles and assaults.
Of the 52 arrested, police identified 28 as MSU students. Of the 48 tickets, 24 apparently went to students enrolled at MSU.
According to East Lansing police, a total of 80 law enforcement officers from East Lansing, MSU, Lansing, Ingham County, and Michigan State Police responded to Cedar Village Apartments when the riot broke out.
In the '80s, the complex near Grand River Avenue became the site of semiannual drinking parties. Wibert said the events evolved into riots that could disintegrate into crowds starting fires, rolling over cars and smashing windows.
Police are exploring whether they can pursue charges against the unidentified person who used Facebook.com, a social networking Internet site, to invite thousands to a Cedar Village party over the weekend. And they're trying to suppress their frustration with people who travel to East Lansing in a partying state of mind.
MSU students gathered outside City Hall on Sunday afternoon. They waited impatiently for police to release friends from jail. Huntsman was one of those waiting. "He's my best friend," Huntsman said of his roommate. "I've got his back."
He said that around 2 a.m., he heard the police issue a warning for people to disperse from Cedar Village. Huntsman said he ran. His roommate was arrested on an intoxication charge.
By the numbers and timeline of events By the numbers
3,000 to 4,000 Estimated size of the crowd at Cedar Fest
80 Total number of police officers and sheriff's deputies dispatched.
52 Number of arrests.
28 The number of MSU students arrested.
48 Number of tickets issued, of which half were given to MSU students.
13 Number of rounds of tear gas fired. In addition, officials fired 20 stingball grenades, 20 "flash bangs" and 24 smoke grenades.
4 Number of reported fires.
2 Number of damaged police vehicles. A windshield was smashed in one vehicle. The left rear window was smashed in another.
Timeline
Saturday 10:25 p.m. Crowd takes over roadway at Cedar Street and Waters Edge.
10:44 p.m. Officers put on helmets due to bottles being thrown.
Sunday 12:12 a.m. Officer hit by fireworks in the 200 block of Cedar.
1:23 a.m. Request for additional units at Cedar and Waters Edge, crowd has become violent.
1:27 a.m. Fire reported at River and Victor streets.
1:28 a.m. Request for even more units at Cedar and Waters Edge - out of control.
1:32 a.m. Chief Wibert advises officers to put out and mobilize for dispersing the crowd.
1:39 a.m. Chief Wibert advises to give announcement to disperse.
1:46 a.m. Announcement to disperse read four times on loudspeaker on north side of crowd.
1:58 a.m. Announcement to disperse read at River and Waters Edge.
2:03 a.m. Announcement to disperse read twice at Cedar and Waters Edge. Windshield broken on East Lansing police truck.
2:07 a.m. Smoke and "flash bangs" launched. Little effect on the crowd.
2:09 a.m. Fire reported in dumpster at 1128 Victor St reet
2:16 a.m. First tear gas deployed.
2:51 a.m. Fire reported in dumpster at 251 River Street
3:11 a.m. All is quiet.
Source: East Lansing Police Department
Staff writer Matthew Miller contributed to this report. Susan Vela, Christine Rook ? Lansing State Journal/AP
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