GALVESTON — At least 12 people were arrested after mass chaos broke out on East Beach Sunday evening when a rap concert ended and its attendees crowded island streets fighting, smoking, drinking and dancing on top of cars.
Only four off-duty police officers were hired to monitor the concert, and as the music ended, they quickly became “completely overwhelmed,” Galveston Police spokesman Lt. Jorge Treviño said.
Problems began when a fight between a few men broke out and officers tried to arrest them, Galveston police Sgt. Byron Franklin said.
The crowd surrounded the officers as multiple fights broke out across the beach.
All officers across the city were called out to help control the crowd, Franklin said.
One officer broke his finger while trying to control the crowd, Treviño said. Extra police officers from the night shift who hadn’t yet begun, and Galveston County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to help get 4,500 to 5,000 cars full of people off the beach, Franklin said.
As police tried to evacuate the line of cars, the people at the concert took their partying to the streets.
Police shut down Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and 14th streets and blocked off a portion of Seawall Boulevard so the cars could leave the island.
Johnny Smecca, owner of Mario’s Italian Restaurant, said cars were swerving into incoming traffic, blocking off streets, and people were partying in the streets and parking lots.
He saw people urinating in the alley behind his restaurant, dancing on top of cars, smoking marijuana and drinking beer, he said.
“It was an absolute fiasco,” Smecca said. “Last time this happened, everybody played the blame game and someone got shot in front of my restaurant. I’m done with hearing excuses and complaints. I pay enough taxes to this city that there’s absolutely no reason for this to happen.”
When he told all the people to leave his parking lot, they left trash and beer bottles behind, he said.
It took almost four hours for police to clear all the people out of the area and get the crowds under control, Franklin said.
The concert was held by radio station Party 93.3 from 2 to 5 p.m. and featured Party Artist 2 Pistols, Colby O’Donnis, Lil Wil & Lil Keke and Webbie, according to the radio station’s Web site.
