News • Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Arizona Summer Wildcat • 5
INQUIRY
FROM PAGE 1
footage captured by body-worn cameras on TPD officers, OIA found that the complainant was aggressive and inciting the crowd to riot, and found the use of force by the officer was within guidelines. Roberto Villaseñor, TPD chief of police, said in a written statement that the media excessively covered isolated events of police violence, such as the video of Mann, and overall there were minimal injuries, including no police injuries, for such a volatile situation. The report describes the events of the conflict, which began after the conclusion of the Elite Eight game. It stated that police were attempting to stop crowds from forming on University Boulevard, but when the basketball game ended, thousands of people entered the street, creating a public safety concern. “During [attempts to disperse the crowd] the crowd grew, and began to confront officers and display rowdy behavior,” the report said. Acts of aggression from the crowd continued to escalate. Beer bottles, fire crackers and smoke bombs were thrown. After numerous attempts to disperse the crowd failed, police made the decision to deploy less-lethal chemical munitions. The report states that this decision was made based on many factors, such as acts of violence against police, obstruction of the road and sidewalk, increasing aggression from the crowd and the apparent intoxication of individuals inciting the crowd.
REBECCA MARIE SASNETT/ARIZONA SUMMER WILDCAT
A TUCSON POLICE DEPARTMENT officer documents the reactions of UA fans during the clash between UA fans and TPD after Arizona lost to Wisconsin in the Elite Eight in Anaheim, Calif. A police board of inquiry found the actions taken by TPD to control the large crowd of UA fans on University Boulevard were justified.
The police on the scene deployed approximately 200 pepperball rounds and nine aerosol vapor canisters containing pepper spray as well as other less-lethal chemical munitions. The OIA received two citizen complaints the night of the incident and one the following day. Social media, such as Twitter and Facebook, aided in the police investigation after the conflict, but drew people to the area the night of the incident despite police instructions to stay away, the report said. The cost of police action on the night of the Elite Eight game $95,821.51, in addition to the cost of overtime pay in the weeks leading up to
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and including the night of the incident. The board made suggestions to TPD for the future. Suggestions included partnerships with the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control, Tucson Code Enforcement officers and the Tucson Fire Department in order to enforce crowd occupancy requirements during large events. Additionally, the board encouraged increased police training and staffing as well as planning with the UA during future Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games. — Follow Hannah Plotkin @HannahPlotkin
• Tweets and other social media posted on the night of the incident, as well as footage from cameras worn by TPD officers, were used during the investigation to piece together the series of events. • The actions of one TPD officer, Sgt. Joel Mann, were found to be inappropriate. A video of Mann pushing a woman over a bench went viral in the days following the incident. • Police action on the night of the incident cost TPD more than $95,000. Police made 15 arrests. Nine of the arrestees were UA students. • During the incident police used less-lethal weapons, including pepperballs and aerosol cannisters of pepper spray. • The Board of Inquiry suggested TPD work more closely with other law enforcement agencies as well as the UA in the future.
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