16 arrested at Morristown St. Patrick’s Parade

MORRISTOWN – Arrests were nearly cut in half this year in Morristown on the day of the Morris County St. Patrick’s Day Parade, likely due to the significant drop in attendance due to rain.

The event that typically draws 70,000 in nice weather instead saw a crowd closer to 10,000 Saturday.

Morristown Police Lt. Stuart Greer said between 7 a.m. on Parade Day and 4 a.m. the following morning 16 arrests were made, down from 29 in 2014.

The arrests included seven for disturbing the peace, three for aggravated assault, and two for defiant trespassing. Other arrests were made for simple assault, obstruction of justice, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and creating a false public alarm, Greer said.

Thirty local ordinance violations were issued, including 19 for drinking in public and eight for public urination. Other violations were issued for littering in public, operating a taxi without a license, and soliciting without a permit, Greer said.

The number of summonses issued on Parade Day also continues to drop, down from 34 last year and 52 in 2013. A peak of 135 violations were issued in 2011.

Violators of local ordinances face a minimum fine of $500, according to a court official.

There were six motor vehicle crashes, down from eight in 2014.

Emergency medical services responded to 25 calls and 18 patients were taken to area hospitals. Nine EMS responses were for an intoxicated person.

Last year prompted 36 EMS responses, with 27 going to the hospital.

In addition to Morristown EMS, several other agencies volunteered to assist including the Morris County Office of Emergency Management, Morris Minute Men, and emergency responders from Chester, Florham Park, Mendham, Mendham Township, New Vernon, Pequannock, and Randolph.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@dailyrecord.com

Morris County St. Patrick's Day Parade police activity and medical calls

Arrests:

Disorderly conduct: 7

Defiant trespassing: 2

Simple assault: 1

Aggravated assault: 3

Obstruction of justice: 1

Creating false public alarm: 1

Posession of CDS: 1

Total number of arrests: 16

Summonses:

Urinating in public: 8

Drinking in public/open container: 19

Soliciting without Permit: 1

Littering in Public: 1

Operating Taxi without License: 1

Total Number of Violations: 30

Medical calls

Total Number of Motor Vehicle Crashes: 6

Total Number of EMS Responses:25

Patients Transported to Hospitals: 18

Source: Morristown Police