I was at the Wisconsin State Fair yesterday.
I didn't witness any problems while I was there. I saw no fights and nothing remotely like mob violence or people being attacked randomly.
We were parked on the infield. As we walked to the car after hours of consuming the best of the fair (like dark chocolate covered cranberries drizzled with white chocolate on a stick - delicious!), we passed the grandstand. MC Hammer was performing "Too Legit to Quit."
I left the grounds about an hour before closing and went home happy, with a six-pack of cream puffs to go.
I guess I was lucky.
From WISN:
Local law enforcement agencies are investigating several incidents near State Fair Park late Thursday night.
Milwaukee police said that around 11:10 p.m., squads were sent to the area for complaints of battery, fighting and property damage to a large, unruly crowd. One officer described it as a "mob beating."
Police said the group of young people attacked fairgoers who were leaving the fair grounds. Police said that some victims were attacked while walking. They said others were pulled out of cars and off of motorcycles before being beaten.
Police said at least seven people were taken to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police said the incidents happened in various areas near the fair grounds, including near the intersection of 84th and Adler streets.
The Milwaukee Police Department, West Allis Police Department and Milwaukee County Sheriff Department all responded to the area.
Milwaukee police said nobody was in custody early Friday morning. They said they are working to identify suspects.
From 620 WTMJ:
Witnesses tell Newsradio 620 WTMJ and TODAY'S TMJ4 of a mob of young people attacking innocent fair-goers at the end of the opening night of State Fair, with some callers claiming a racially-charged scene.
One witness described a mob of 20 to 30 young black men beating white people, including him, as they left State Fair Thursday night.
"It looked like they were just going after white guys, white people," said Norb Roffers of Wind Lake in an interview with Newsradio 620 WTMJ. He left the State Fair Entrance near the corner of South 84th Street and West Schlinger Avenue in West Allis.
"They were attacking everybody for no reason whatsoever."
...TODAY'S TMJ4 video shows West Allis police handcuffing at least one person, but they won't say how many people they took into custody.
Milwaukee Police said that their officers were sent to State Fair Park for "complaints of battery, fighting and property damage due to a large, unruly crowd."
A police sergeant told TODAY'S TMJ4's Melissa McCrady that the number of calls describing injuries are still coming in, so they could not give an accurate number of people who were injured.
That sergeant explained that some injuries were serious, and local hospitals were attending to the injured.
Milwaukee Police said they had no one in custody.
One woman told police that she was sitting in her car with a window down when some teenagers reached through her window and started attacking her.
"I think once we get all the info in it'll be just like that, like what happened in Riverwest," said the police sergeant.
...[Norb Roffers of Wind Lake] described his emotions and reactions to the attacks outside the park.
"I turned around and looked, there was this black kid standing there laughing, thinking it's funny. My wife's like, 'Let's get out of here.' It's one of those things, you don't expect it. Your reaction to it is, first of all, quite surprised, then you get so angry, it's like, 'What in the hell's going on there? Why are these guys acting like such hoodlums? What are they picking on anybody for?' We were just like cattle being herded out of the park, and they were picking and choosing who they wanted to beat on."
He said his injuries were limited to a headache.
Roffers said the attack wouldn't stop him from attending the State Fair.
"We will be going back," said Roffers.
"It's a family event for us. We get together with our family and we do stuff at the park to enjoy the fair. My biggest concern is that the State Fair Park Police and West Allis get their heads out of their butts and figure out how to do some security over there. This isn't the first year State Fair has been going on. They should know what the heck they've got to do and where they've got to have people in place by now."
But according to Roffers, they did not have enough people there to handle the crowds, and he claims that the main stage acts - MC Hammer, Young MC and Tone Loc, were the draw for a crowd he claimed was there.
"I think the headliner they had last night is what drew the type of crowd they had last night. I've never been at that fair where they had so many African-American people. There's never usually that many of them, at that park, for whatever reason that I can figure."
..."There was this terror going on when you leave the place, you just wonder. Luckily, all the violence that was happening stayed right close by the park entrance. As we got a block away from the park, that's when the cops started showing up."
He said the lack of police and security presence will bring about his complaint up the various channels of State Fair and local police.
"They should be able to provide safety and traffic control," said Roffers. "I've never worried about it before."
He said he would give a written complaint to the State Fair and put in a call to West Allis Police, but that's not all.
"I will be contacting the State Fair Park Board and I'm going to chew on their butts a little bit about what happened."
From FOX 6 News:
It wasn't the way that we wanted State Fair to kick off this year. Hundreds of people rampaged through the local neighborhoods at about 11:00 p.m. last night. Milwaukee police say it all started around closing time in the parking lot.
Police were called out to State Fair Park for complaints of battery, fighting, and property damage from a large unruly crowd. According to police, starting at the fairgrounds, the group ran down 84th St. then continued down to 60th and Main St.
Some reports say the group charged at cars leaving the fair, smashed in car and home windows, and fighting/attacking people along the way.
Police say people were punched in the face by the group. A Muskego woman required stitches and another woman will need surgery. As of now, four victims have come forward so far.
We've gotten several emails from witnesses at the scene saying the mob could have started at the Midway inside the park. Multiple fights broke out and a little boy was thrown to the ground.
Multiple fights broke out and a little boy was even thrown to the ground.
Police continue to investigate what happened late last night. According to police, nobody is in custody and they are working to identify the suspects involved. They tell FOX6 that if or once the suspects are found, they could face at least two felony charges -- including child abuse.
That's horrible!
I experienced nothing threatening on the fairgrounds last night (other than the deep fried butter).
I saw people of all races having a good time. At no point did I see large groups of young people roaming the grounds. I witnessed nothing intimidating or frightening.
I had a very pleasant experience.
It's very disturbing to think that my visit to the fair could have ended with a beating and a trip to the hospital if I had left just a bit later and been in the wrong place.
There is absolutely no excuse for this mob violence, none whatsoever.
I'm afraid that a much larger law enforcement presence is necessary to maintain order.
Sadly, it appears that there is a mob of conscienceless young people, sociopaths, in the Milwaukee area bent on behaving violently and terrorizing innocent people.
We can't let them hold our state fair hostage.
We can't let the terrorists win.
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Watch video from TMJ4.
Video from FOX 6 News:
RAW VIDEO: Cell phone video of State Fair midway incident
RAW VIDEO: State Fair news conference on incidents
Victims describe what happened at State Fair
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UPDATE: Wisconsin State Fair Curfew Policy
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UPDATE: Walker orders State Patrol to assist at State Fair
Gov. Scott Walker has ordered the Wisconsin State Patrol to provide additional law enforcement help at the Wisconsin State Fair after several incidents involving rampaging youths broke out on the fairgrounds and on the streets outside Thursday night.
Cullen Werwie, Walker's spokesman, said the governor made the decision after reviewing the events from Thursday night, in which at least 24 people were arrested.
"We will continue to evaluate the situation and make any adjustments necessary to ensure a successful and safe event. We will be doing everything in our power to ensure that parents feel that it is safe to bring their children to the world's best fair," Werwie said in a statement.
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UPDATE, August 6, 2011: New rules help keep things calm, State Fair spokeswoman says
Wisconsin State Fair officials reported a normal, violence-free evening Friday, thanks in part to new rules put in place to keep unattended teens away and a beefed-up presence of uniformed law enforcement officers.
"It really went well," Patrice Harris, the fair's communication manager, said Saturday.
At least 31 people were arrested and at least 11 people were injured Thursday, during the fair's opening night.
The trouble Thursday began around 7 p.m. when fights erupted among black youths in the Midway area and spread into neighboring streets around the 11 p.m. closing time.
As a result, new rules were implemented that require all people under 18 to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian over the age of 21 in order to be admitted to the fairgrounds after 5 p.m.
In addition, Gov. Scott Walker ordered the State Police to help keep order. Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn also promised additional police protection at the fair and other weekend activities around the city.
"Fairgoers were coming into the park thanking us for the policies," Harris said. "The extra security really assured people of their safety."
Harris said she did not know if the new policies, or fear that Thursday's violence might be repeated, suppressed attendance.
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