This bust's for you: Tailgaters targeted 49 arrested for underage drinking in arts center crackdown BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer STAFF PHOTO A group of underaged drinkers is taken away in handcuffs by state troopers while people gathered on this hill watch before a June 6 concert at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel. After nearly two weeks of hearing about a proposed crackdown, dozens were charged with underage drinking at a PNC Bank Arts Center event in Holmdel last week, and authorities hope the arrests will serve as a notice that things are about to change at the venue. The crackdown comes in the wake of a May 18 Gwen Stefani concert in which about 15 underage drinkers were taken to area hospitals for alcohol-related illnesses. Assemblywoman Amy Handlin (R-Monmouth/Middlesex) spearheaded a movement to have state police, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, which owns the venue, and Live Nation, a concert promotions company which leases the facility, to provide more security and surveillance, starting with last week's concert featuring popular musical act Fall Out Boy. Upon arriving at the venue around 4 p.m., two hours before show time, Handlin spoke about what she expected to see during the pre-show tailgating festivities, long known as a chance for concertgoers to have a good time before the lights hit the stage. "I've heard from people on both sides, those who think it's a good idea to start cracking down and those who want to be left alone and defy the police," Handlin said. "I definitely expect to see the police out tonight, doing their jobs." As of 4:30 p.m., there was not a uniformed officer in sight in one of the main parking lots. "The cops supposedly do sweeps of the [parking] lots before the show, and they're not here," Handlin said. Within the hour, though, a contingent of state police flooded the parking lots, pleasing the assemblywoman. "Overall we made 53 arrests, 49 of which were related to underage drinking," State Police Capt. Kevin Burke Jr. said. "It's not like we get any satisfaction out of making arrests, but people should know that we are cracking down on this kind of thing." Holmdel Police Chief Raymond Wilson said that his officers knew about the crackdown days in advance of the show, but that they were not dispatched to the grounds. Still, he noted that members of his department do pay attention when shows are taking place. "When there's events like Ozzfest in town, we need to be more prepared, but otherwise, we really didn't do anything extra for this show," Wilson said. "The state police have jurisdiction for shows at the arts center. Our regular shifts know what's going on at PNC. We don't get involved unless the state police tell us to do so." At least one concertgoer had no problem with the increased police presence. "I don't understand why people are all upset about things. You can tell things are different tonight than they were previously," said 28-year-old Bayonne resident Jen Merrian, who was not at the Gwen Stefani concert and said she had no idea about the crackdown. "The last time I remember there being a problem was three years ago when I came to a Blink 182 concert. Otherwise, things have always been very relaxed in the parking lots before shows." Holmdel Mayor Serena DiMaso, who joined Handlin at the show, commented that she thought there was less tailgating going on during the pre-show hours. But still, there was tailgating in full progress right in front of her eyes, which led her and Handlin to notice a group of potentially underage drinkers. Much to their chagrin, they were right. "I knew they were cracking down but I'm not too concerned," 20-year-old Brian Miller of North Brunswick said. "I just want to sit down and relax and have a good time here in the parking lot. Brian's 23-year-old brother Eric commented that authorities had yet to come up to him, his brother, or any of the 12 or so people who they were drinking with. That was all about to change though, as just minutes later, five state troopers approached the group, many of whom were forced to sit down with their hands behind their backs. In the end, neither of the Millers but three members of their group were cuffed and led away, with many sets of eyes staring at them. "People know that the cops are out tonight, especially after what happened at the Gwen Stefani concert," Handlin said. "We're doing our jobs and getting these young people away from the alcohol. The authorities are a strong and visible presence, and that's what we needed tonight." Turnpike Authority spokesman Joe Orlando noted that things were much more orderly on this evening and that people got the message. "I'm not here at every show, but I did want to make sure that things were going to be better all the way around and it looks like it has gone that way," he said. While Orlando was glad to see the changes in crowd control and underage drinking, not everybody agreed with him. "There used to be so much pot out here and nobody really cared," 20-year-old Lavallette resident Christina Bleeker said as the show was about to begin inside the 16,000-capacity venue. "These parking lots used to be so hopping prior to the shows, and now tonight you can see that things have changed, and it sucks. The adults are ruining this for us." Bleeker's friend, Serena Sedlacek, 20, of Point Pleasant, was so dismayed by what she saw, that she was willing to sell off her $28 ticket for $20, incurring an $8 loss. "Just last summer, my friends and I came down here for a 311 concert and the atmosphere was amazing," Sedlacek said. "People were out in the lots and just having a good time, and now this. I've got to blame the cops and the Holmdel mayor [DiMaso]. She needs to relax and take it easy and let people have fun. People need to learn to handle themselves, and they can't, and that's why the cops are all out here tonight." DiMaso's reasons for attending the festivities were to see what kind of impact the increased police presence would have, and she seemed satisfied at what she witnessed. "I've received numerous e-mails and phone calls from concerned parents leading up to tonight," DiMaso said. "They wanted us to make sure that their kids were safe. I'm disappointed that some of the young people didn't get the message and that they're being defiant. I think, though, as time goes on, everyone will get the message." Burke declined to specify if a similar number of troopers would be out en masse like last Wednesday night at upcoming shows, but did say that "an adequate amount of staffing will be present in the future." Police are expected to keep the pressure on through the summer slate of concerts, 10 more of which are expected to attract heavily under-21 crowds. The next such show will feature The Fray on June 25. "There's more cops than ever before out here in the parking lots, and they're all checking IDs," Merrian said. "Yeah, it sucks, but it is what it is, and there's nothing that anybody can do about it anymore. If you're underage now you have to be careful." DiMaso said Monday she was disappointed to see the steady flow of people being led away in cuffs, but was still glad that the word was getting out about the crackdown. "I think it's a good thing that we followed through on what we said we'd do, which was to curb the underage drinking problem at the arts center," DiMaso said. "Fifty-three arrests is a lot, but we had to protect our kids."