Police: Musikfest arrests nearly doubled from last year

Increase may be due to record number of visitors, nice weather

Bethlehem police say arrests at this year’s Musikfest nearly doubled from last year, an increase that police say is likely due to a record number of visitors and string of sunny days.

This year, there were 38 arrests, up from 20 the previous year, according to figures released Tuesday by Bethlehem police.

“We had a string of beautiful weather, and that brought even more people than ever to the festival,” said Bethlehem police Chief Mark DiLuzio. “It’s still a very low number of arrests when you consider that we had more than 1.2 million people here.”

A social media threat and recent mass shootings prompted beefed-up security at this year’s Musikfest, including visible officers on guard armed with AR-15 rifles and added surveillance cameras, DiLuzio said. A New York City man who made an online threat that appeared to target Bethlehem as “payback” for supporting President Trump was investigated by police and the FBI, but deemed unfounded.

A string of sunny days and lineup of attractions brought more than 1.2 million people to the city over the festival’s 11-day run, record attendance for the 36-year-old event.

Last year, Bethlehem police announced 20 arrests at Musikfest, mostly for alcohol-related issues. Over the past several years, police say the average number of arrests is 45.

This year, alcohol-related offenses remained at the top of the list, with 26 arrests for public drunkenness, three arrests each for possession of marijuana and disorderly conduct. The remaining arrests were for crimes including criminal trespass, theft, underage drinking and one charge of carrying a concealed weapon without a license.

The weapon charge stems from an argument between two people in which a gun was “shown, but not pointed,” DiLuzio said.

Police say as in years past, all of the arrests were either misdemeanor or summary offenses.

The security changes made at Musikfest this year likely will remain, DiLuzio said.

“It’s better to be prepared than to not be prepared and wish you were,” DiLuzio said. “We can’t hide our heads in the sand and think something terrible can’t happen here. Because, it can.”

DiLuzio said while he knew some people found the presence of the armed officers nerve-wracking, others told police they felt safer knowing officers were ready to react if needed.

“I think this is a change that people are going to start seeing all around the country now,” DiLuzio said. “It shouldn’t deter anyone from coming.”

Police, firefighters and EMS also responded to 63 emergency medical calls from everything to helping find lost children to parking complaints and medical calls, officials say.