84 Arrests Over St. Patrick's Weekend Include Road Rage, Screwdriver Assault
The following information was provided by the Newport Police Department. Arrests do not indicate a conviction.
Update: Tuesday, March 19 1:16 p.m.
The Newport Police Department has released the official crime stats from St. Patrick's Day weekend.
According to officials, police made 84 arrests. The previous report of 94 arrests was the result of double reporting.
Read the full report and breakdown here.
Original report: Monday, March 18
According to Newport police, 94 people were either arrested or cited on St. Patrick's Day weekend.
Last year, more than 70 people had run-ins with the police. In 2011, 95 people were either cited or arrested on parade day. Most of the arrests were for alcohol-related charges.
As of 9 a.m. Monday morning, police reports were still being processed and some are still not complete. Patch will update these figures as information becomes available.
Arrests and Citations Breakdown
- Possession of Alcohol in Public – 37
- Possession of Alcohol by a Minor – 31
- Disorderly Conduct – 14
- Simple Assault - 8
- Urinating in public – 2
Road Rage Results in Felony Assault Arrest
Daniel D. Lentz, 26, of 122 Gibbs Ave, Newport, was arrested around 6:20 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, for felony assault with a dangerous weapon and first-offense possession of marijuana charges.
Lentz reportedly rammed his car into another vehicle while driving on Broadway near City Hall.
According to reports, officers saw Lentz try to drive around the car in front of him and then turned into the passenger’s side of the car, causing significant damage to both vehicles.
Lentz told police he was upset that the other driver had run through a stop sign. Reports said he showed no signs of being intoxicated.
The victim denied running any stop signs and told police he had no idea why Lentz drove into him.
After transporting Lentz to the station, police found three small bags of marijuana in the back of the cruiser.
Middletown Man Allegedly Threatens Teen with Screwdriver
William L. Freeman, 23, of 7 Bristol Rd., Middletown, was arrested around 9:12 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, for felony assault with a dangerous weapon and larceny charges.
According to reports, Freeman had used a screwdriver to threaten a 15-year-old boy and took his cell phone.
The victim told police Freeman had approached him outside of his building, pressed the screwdriver against his ribs and told him to empty his pockets. The boy handed over his cell phone and was able to get away.
The boy and other witnesses said Freeman threw the phone on the ground before fleeing the scene. A neighbor also told police she saw Freeman threatening to stab the boy with the screwdriver.
Police located Freeman and placed him under arrest.
The above report details arrests made by the Newport Police Department. Descriptions of all events are based solely on police officer reports provided to Patch.
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Cornelius Ibbotson
1:21 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Obviously these 94 people didnt read the Do's and Dont's article previously posted, at least the city will clean up with the fines they are going to get hit with.
Unbelievable
2:43 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
A very miss leading headline! I'm pretty sure there wasn't 94 arrest made. Maybe 94 offenses requiring citations but that does not = arrest.
Natasha van Doren
5:20 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
I was not able to go, I had to work down town a deal with drunk high school and college people all day. They were drunk, rude, and crazy. This is no family event. This is an event the requires trips to the hospital. People are out of control.
Newport needs to decide what they want. Do they want Bourban Street or do they want people that are going to keep coming back and shopping, eatting and telling their friends about Newport.
Cara Kenefick
3:38 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
@Unbelievable It is a bit confusing, but citations are considered arrests by the police department.
jason
7:33 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Its just out of control. Its not fun to be out watching people just become belligerent and stupid
mandy
6:03 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
That was the worst I never seen anything like it people was acting so stupid I left early
William
2:45 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Welcome to Newport--- We are becoming the THIRD world of great vacation spots--- and we hold onto the idea that we have it all-- What we have is dirty unpaved roads, filthy walk-ways and a rather sad downtown center-- As you pass the ever impressive Historic Court house- being restored you can walk by the shut-ins and the disaster of city planning-- The old Y... Anyone with a clue would have purchased the school at the very top of Broadway and placed that very important service in Said building... Your downtown area should be at least the best you can show-- We are in fact trying to live off of being a Tourist delight not a fright---and now to give honnor to St. Patrick we have the drunks of the world playing with idiots all in the name of the good folk of Ireland--- HOW GRAND.
Chris Heaton
3:12 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Compare that to the much larger Savannah, GA celebration with only 15 arrests...
http://savannahnow.com/news/2013-03-17/2013-savannah-st-patricks-day-arrests-comparable-2012-police-say#.UUizOxzvvNA
While I've not been to Savannah for a St Patrick's day since 1987, it does sound like they have a more moderate class of drunk in their festivities. Either that or the Savannah police just don't bother with most violations?
steven McFarland
2:24 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
whell this is what happens when a bunch of Irishmen get together .
There is only holliday for the irish to celebrate anything during the year so maybe they feel left out or something .....