CRIME WATCH: Congo and High Fest arrests
The cold temperatures, freezing rain and snow did not stop Congo and High Fest partiers, and it most certainly did not stop the Ohio Investigative Unit (OIU) and Ohio University Police Department (OUPD). For the second weekend of Ohio University’s 2022 fest season, Congress Street and High Street took center stage for Congo Fest on March 25 and High Fest on March 26.
The OIU reported 13 individual arrests and 26 total charges for the weekend of March 25. The violations with the highest charge counts were persons under 21 knowingly possessing beer and certain acts prohibited with fictitious identification, with both receiving eight charges.
The OIU is a section of the Ohio State Highway Patrol that pays special focus to alcohol, tobacco and food stamp violations across the state.
These numbers are significantly down from the previous weekend’s arrest numbers. According to reporting by The New Political, 44 people were arrested during Mill Fest on March 19 with a total of 88 charges filed.
The OUPD reported four arrests from March 25 to March 27: one person arrested for disorderly conduct by intoxication and possession of a fictitious ID, two individual arrests for underage consumption of alcohol and one arrest for an outstanding warrant.
The next weekend of the 2022 Ohio U Fest Season is Mom’s Weekend on the weekend of April 8 to April 10, followed by Palmer Fest and Palmer Place Fest on April 22 and April 23.
