Police Seize Over $1 Million From Phish Fans, Arrest 194

HAMPTON, Va. — Some Phish fans are leaving Hampton a little lighter than when they arrived for the band's weekend reunion.

Police said Monday they confiscated about $1.2 million in illegal drugs and more than $68,000 in cash from concertgoers. Authorities also arrested 194 Phish fans during the three-night celebration of the band's return to the stage after a nearly five-year absence.

Most of the arrests were for drug possession, use and distribution, police said.

Tourism officials had estimated 75,000 fans would be coming to the coastal Virginia city. Nearly 200 law enforcement officers worked the weekend event, with the Vermont-based band picking up the tab.

Comments

[bsc]

that really stinks. At the first show I went to in the 1990s, you didnt see one cop and it was a great, peaceful, fun event. The shows got progressively more 'policed' and the atmosphere changed.

[stevefromkelso]

I thought the Police retired from concerts after last years tour. Yer welcome

[EHarold]

screw the war on drugs go bust some meth labs leave the pot heads alone.

[WilliamL]

what is this?

a "band" inviting more police to their show?

lame.

[bsc]

they probably had to pay for extra cops as a condition to playing there

[YeahDonkey]

VIRGINIA? and people are surprised there were a huge amount of cops there?

Small list of places I will never see a concert.

ANYWHERE IN VIRGINIA
anywhere in Orange County CA...espec­ially Irvine CA
Anywhere in the south
anywhere with serious pork saturation

[rukiddingmerightnow]

When I used to go see the Dead a lot (clearly a long time ago), this venue had a huge rep as a no-nonsense venue (leave your extra contraband back at the hotel) - some things never change...

[fuzzyhearts]

Going to a show in Irvine is the worst, especially if you're a person of color.

[bsc]

good advice

[Shawtanic]

lol, if any of you were down there, you would know that hampton was a total free for all, a lot of people believe that since phish was paying the cops they were a lot more lax, personally i thought it was easily the most laid back phish show i've ever been to as far as the police presence goes.

[Mattyhorn]

Newsflash: ALL local police target specific concerts with the knowledge that pot-smokers, specifically, will attend the show in abundance. Whether it's Phish, Dave Matthews Band, Ratdog, etc., you can bet those dates are circled in bright red on the calendar at the local police station.

I attended both DMB shows in Mass. last summer, and the harassment in the parking lots (esp. the first night) were terrible - the worst I've seen in over 20 years of going to all types of rock concerts. And this is before you even get inside! Then you've got the over-eager venue rent-a-cops to deal with...

[harrymellon]

How could Phish do that to their fans? And if they think they have gotten where they are purely based on their music and not fans altered states of consciousness than they are either in denial or lying. People want a place and music where they can have 'the experience' and it could easily have been another band that filled the vacuum left by The Grateful Dead. Obviously fame has gone to their head to allow and facilitate such mass arrests bought and paid for by them. And Hampton is where the bad cops operate with all their latest surveillance toys. Shame.

[regulargal]

It was most likely a city ordinance necessity for Phish to pay the cost of event security. This is not unusual. I've been to a number of "jamband" festivals and concerts, including Phish many times. You never know how the local "security" is going to be. Some times they are laid back, other times they are wicked.

[harrymellon]

Yes I know and that is why you choose different cities to play regardless of the pressure from promoters contracts. Nassau was the same so you play MSG instead. Hampton is too good at busting people.

[skr831]

PHISH contracted for extra police? We'll see how the rest of the tour goes. I have a feeling there will be plenty of extra tickets available.

[Snuffleupagus]

Sounds like classic divide and conquer stuff. Maybe PHISH was told they had to cover extra security, and got assurances that massive pot busts wouldn't happen?
There is no way they would willingly knowingly set up their fans. Whatever really happened here, this reeks of fascism.

[LiberalBuzz]

FIRST mistake.

Holding the concert in Virginia.

[-0013]

Holding a Phish show at the Mothership in Hampton is never a mistake.

get a clue.

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

I totally agree. The cops in VA are A$$jerks!

[defdes]

FIRST mistake.

Holding the concert in Virginia..­...

Second mistake, going to a Phish concert.

[RobinSeattle]

So I wonder how many burglaries and assaults were occurring elsewhere in town while the cops were busy busting pot smokers.

Or was this about asset forefeiture, AKA "legal governmental robbery"?

[avraamjack]

There is no need to wonder.

Here in the DC Metro area, gang stalkers openly and notoriously stalk, harass, torture and murder people with poison and radiation. The authorities never touch them. You can guess why.

The harmless stoner smoking a phatty? Mass mobilization of law enforcement!
.

[PW1206]

Nobody saw this coming, really?

[avraamjack]

Wrong coast for copacetic ....

[knosiswar]

I heard the story on NPR, PHISH contracted the Police to be there. It was the Band's IDEA.

Phish got together for a Sting Operation it seems. That's how much Phish appreciates their fans, they invited the cops and paid to arrest them.

PHISH SUX

[ldavis24]

what are you 12?
The cops can patrol anywhere outside a venue they want to, and they do. In addition they often will provide security inside a venue in addition to a regular security team.

[knosiswar]

Are you SLOW?

Phish, according to NPR, was responsible for the large presence of POLICE. It was the band's idea. There was much more than the usual amount of Police. And, so you can follow along, I repeat, the band, PHISH, contracted the EXTRA POLICE PRESENCE.

[DialectDerelict]

this is bs. just not right.