Participants in post-concert riot expected to face charges

Four patrol cars damaged at Evergreen State College

By Jeremy Pawloski, Christian Hill and Venice Buhain | The Olympian • Published February 16, 2008

OLYMPIA – Thurston County Sheriff's Lt. Chris Mealy said detectives expect to identify and file charges against the rioters who damaged four patrol cars outside a hip-hop concert by Dead Prez at The Evergreen State College early Friday morning.

The rioters caused between $35,000 and $50,000 in damage to the four patrol cars, including one that was overturned and "totaled," Mealy said. Between 200 and 500 concertgoers at the campus-sponsored event were involved in the riot, Mealy said.

The destroyed patrol car alone will cost $25,000 to replace, Mealy said.

Mealy said Thurston County detectives are in the early stages of gathering evidence, but they hope to review video to identify the people who damaged the patrol cars.

Sheriff Dan Kimball said detectives know there is video footage of the riot taken by news media, as well as by concertgoers — on cell phones or on digital cameras. "We will get it," he said.

Detectives are issuing subpoenas to witnesses to obtain evidence, Mealy said.

Physically damaging or disabling an emergency vehicle constitutes first-degree malicious mischief, a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

Evergreen Vice President for Student Affairs Art Costantino said that if evidence emerges that Evergreen students were involved in the vandalism, they could face discipline for violating the student-conduct code, in addition to possible criminal charges.

Evergreen officials said Friday that Dead Prez is a popular hip-hop group that attracted audience members from the region who are not Evergreen students. About 500 students and 400 nonstudents bought tickets; a man who was arrested was not a student at the college, Costantino said.

Alcohol is not allowed during student-sponsored events, according to campus policy; it was unclear Friday whether any concertgoers were drinking.

Costantino said he talked to many Evergreen students Friday who were upset about the actions of concertgoers who damaged the patrol cars and felt it was inappropriate. When the patrol car was flipped, Costantino said, some concertgoers were trying to stop it, while others were egging the participants on.