As another festival ends, there are the usual reports that come out. This year we learn some upsetting news. Earlier I wrote about the young man, Adam Levine, who ended up dead after complications from a seizure.
The Miami Herald that Levine was one of about 70 incidents that the Miami Fire Rescue captain reported. This report counts every reported injury of any kind; from paper cuts to hospitalizations. Captain Ignatius Carroll told the Miami Herald that considering the festival attracted about 170,000 having less than 20 people a day taken to the hospital is a tremendous improvement from previous years. Miami Police Sgt. Freddie Cruz stated that the numbers that were presented this year at a Monday morning meeting between festival organizers, Miami Police, and Miami Rescue were “good”. This was the third straight year that the total number of arrests has decreased for those attending the festival. There were 29 felony arrests and 38 misdemeanor arrests. 33 of the total 67 arrests were because of narcotics. Others being for intoxication, violence, or petty crimes.
The meeting on Monday did point out that credit cards, passports, cell phones, and other belongings were left in high numbers at the festival. It was enough that the festival allowed for a Lost and Found to be opened until 4p.m. on Tuesday.
Festival reps as well as public servants believe they were able to decrease the number of incidents, arrests, and issues because they were extremely strict about what entered their festival grounds. There was a strict bag policy, only allowing small camel backs and clear bags. Boxes outside of the lines allowed for guests to throw away any illegal paraphernalia with zero repercussions before being searched by security. There was, finally, security and staff who roamed the festival to check on individuals who seemed less than 100%.