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Balloon Race weekend flies by without serious crime

Published 12:02am Wednesday, October 24, 2012

NATCHEZ — Despite a few alcohol-related arrests over the weekend, local law enforcement officials say the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race went off without a criminal hitch.

Natchez Police Detective Jerry Ford and Adams County Sheriff Chuck Mayfield said both agencies had extra patrol downtown for the balloon festivities.

“We didn’t have the first problem,” Mayfield said. “Most of the people who approached our deputies were just looking for restaurants or a place to park.”

Ford said there were a handful of disturbances at downtown bars, which he said are common on any given weekend. But he said there was no trouble for NPD at the festival grounds.

“I actually think this was a better year than in the past,” he said.

Six people were booked in the Adams County Jail for driving under the influence, but Mayfield said those arrests came from the Mississippi Highway Patrol, who he said set up road blocks and patrolled the county.

The festival grounds were staffed with a security staff, some of who were off-duty police officers, Ford said.

“I think that pretty much took care of any problems that people might have posed,” he said.

 

 

 

 

 

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  • Anonymous

    Isn’t that rather like entrapment to sell alcohol at a festival or event to gain the revenue then police set up road blocks to catch people for drunk driving? If you have one or two beers you considered drunk and you drive to get to the bar or event and back home then they turn around and just nail you afterwards? that is just insane. Yeah I know people should not drink and drive but there is no way not to. If you get to a bar or festival you have to drive and get back home and not everyone that drinks is sloppy falling down drunk….They should either not sell alcohol at the events or they should not be allowed to set up a road block like that….with the high cost of attending an event and then this kind of crap afterwards will keep people from attending these things..

  • Anonymous

    Isn’t that rather like entrapment to sell alcohol at a festival or event to gain the revenue then police set up road blocks to catch people for drunk driving? If you have one or two beers you considered drunk and you drive to get to the bar or event and back home then they turn around and just nail you afterwards? that is just insane. Yeah I know people should not drink and drive but there is no way not to. If you get to a bar or festival you have to drive and get back home and not everyone that drinks is sloppy falling down drunk….They should either not sell alcohol at the events or they should not be allowed to set up a road block like that….with the high cost of attending an event and then this kind of crap afterwards will keep people from attending these things..

  • vilou09

    Anyone know what happened in vidalia friday after the balloon glow and fireworks? I was stuck in traffic trying to leave and about five cop cars sped past me (on the grass/curb and even pushing cars out of the way from the middle of the road!) And when we passed the tillman taj mahal they were all stopped there with lights on and an ambulance on standby. Doesn’t sound like nothing happened to me… sounds like someone doesn’t want anyone to know.

  • Guest

    Really? It’s law enforcement’s fault? It’s the fault of the people selling it? How about if you know you’re going to drink take a little personal responsibility and get a designated driver? There’s no way not to drink and drive you say? I hope you’re the first one they got.

  • Anonymous

    vilou09,
    You can go to one of them Chief Arthur K. Lewis meetings and ask him. Listen to ” AND EVERYTHING ” he has to say.
    The TRUTH will never come out of that department. Nobody in the VPD cares anymore. Matter of fact, nobody in the city
    cares to hear what comes out of that department. For it’s full of mis-management. The truth is NOT in there.
    Just guessing, it might of been them backing up ( again ) the officer that locked himself and his friend in the back seat of the
    police cruiser. Bet nobody in that department told society about that one !!!!!

  • Guest

    Sounds like maybe its none your business. If you’re so concerned, why didn’t you ask the officer directing traffic? I did, and he said it was…oop, I’m not telling you. All you want is to be messy and stir up crap. It was legitimate though, as disappointed at that as you may be. Vidalia has a good police and fire department.

  • Anonymous

    I will have to say, Vidalia Louisiana has a SUPER Fire Department. They have some leadership there !!!!

  • Anonymous

    You’ve got to be kidding!

  • vilou09

    I would, but I don’t live in the area anymore.. I was just visiting.

    Ps… cop and his SPECIAL friend were locked in the back of the squad car lol

  • vilou09

    Wow, you are a piece of work…

  • Anonymous

    First of all smart ***, I did not go, second of all, the event planners are the ones who allow the beer and such, so if they did not sell it then no one would be in that boat and if they did then YES it would be their responsibility, but I do feel that setting up a road block for DWI check after an event like this is more or less setting people up. YES everyone should drink responsibly but not every one has a designated driver and it only takes a beer or two and they can site you for driving under the influence especially at those check points but if you do not drive yourself you do not get there… I do feel this is a double edge sword and do not feel it is right. If the person were weaving and driving reckless and they stop them then you played and lost but to set a road block up afterwards just seems sneaky and underhanded… more or less setting people up to fail.

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