Fewer students were arrested this year over the Halloween weekend, even though more total arrests, citations and calls to dispatch were made, according to Chico Police.
On Friday night alone, there were five calls for alcohol overdoses within one hour at mostly different addresses.
University Police teamed up with California State University’s Critical Response Unit, making a total of 43 officers patrolling areas in and around campus. In addition, there were approximately 150 law enforcement officers from Chico Police, Paradise Police, California Highway Patrol and California Alcohol Beverage Control, said John Feeney, University Police chief.
A report released by Chico Police shows the statistics for last Thursday, Friday and Saturday:
- Total arrests: 58
- Total citations: 76
- Calls to dispatch: 1,125
By comparison, in 2014 there were 41 arrests and 452 calls to dispatch, the report shows.
University Police responded to about 150 incidents from midnight on Oct. 30 to midnight on Nov. 1, said Curtis Pahlka, University Police civilian manager. However, about 50 of those were not Halloween-related.
University Police made four arrests and one citation over the weekend, Pahlka said. None of those arrested were Chico State students, but rather from Stockton, Redding and Sacramento.
Greg Keeney, a sergeant for Chico Police, said that the number of students arrested this year was unusually low.
“There were only six Chico State students arrested, five Butte College students and five students from other universities,” he said. “That has significantly decreased from years past.”
In past years, Chico State student arrests easily reached the double digit range.
Feeney said that public intoxication and underage drinking were the most common problems his crew encountered, which was expected.
Some of the people who were intoxicated in public were transferred to Butte County Jail, while others were taken in ambulances to the hospital.
University Police also broke up several fights.
Feeney said his crew reported feeling appreciated by students.
“Many received comments, thanking them for being there,” he said.
Feeney said that after the eventful weekend, he’s just glad it’s over.
Gabriel Sandoval can be reached at [email protected] or @GLuisSandoval on Twitter.
*This story was updated on Nov. 4 as information from University Police became available.
