Lancet Jades
06-02-2004, 05:28 PM
Car and truck show a little too rowdy, Lebanon police say
By ANDY HUMBLES
Staff Writer
Lebanon police say rowdy behavior downtown because of an annual Memorial Day weekend car show was worse this year with 37 people arrested and 247 citations issued.
The promoter of the Slammin' & Jammin' Car and Truck Show felt things went better overall with 14,000 people coming into Lebanon, despite police making 11 arrests on charges of indecent exposure, seven of disorderly conduct and two of assault.
''We could have arrested three times as many if we had the manpower,'' Lebanon Police Chief Scott Bowen said. ''People drinking up and down the street. This year we had more fight calls. We would hope those who have the responsibility of bringing in the show would look long and hard about bringing it back.''
But promoter Charlie Cobble of Parrottsville, Tenn., and Wilson County Agricultural Center director Larry Tomlinson say the Slammin' & Jammin' show has already been renewed for next year's Memorial Day weekend at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center.
The Ward Center, where the show is held, is operated by the Wilson County government, just outside Lebanon's city limits.
Tomlinson said Cobble paid about $6,300 to the county for use of the Ward Center and also paid for all security and cleanup needed. Tomlinson and Cobble estimated that the show brought in about 14,000 people.
''It's a good event for us,'' Tomlinson said. ''I know it causes Lebanon police problems. I know they are hard working. But (37) arrests out of 14,000? What percentage is that? When you bring in 14,000 people, problems are to be expected. You're going to have problems, just like when you have an influx of people for any event.''
Police say the rowdy behavior has centered on U.S. 231 after event hours, when many owners show their cars on the main strip of Lebanon including the Town Square. This was the 11th year for the show, but police said last year was the first of any extensive problems, with more than 30 arrests made.
Police officials have said a Mardi Gras-style atmosphere surrounding the show includes women exposing their breasts for beads, drag racing, public intoxication and loitering and vandalism and hotels where Bowen said 20 to 30 people were found in one room.
Cobble said his information was that problems away from the show were minimal. ''People were telling me it seemed a lot better this year than last year with a lot more people. Any time you have a lot of people you're going to have a little rowdiness somewhere. Ninety-five percent were there to have a good time. Five percent are there to cause a problem, and the Lebanon police were doing their job and did a good job of controlling those people.''
Bowen said 198 of the 247 citations this year were issued to people out of town. The chief said 19 of the arrests were people from outside Lebanon and 18 were from in town.
''He says it's all local, but what we've seen is that's not the case,'' Bowen said of Cobble. ''We found we did have a problem with some local folks who are residents who sit out in lawn chairs and have too much to drink. But it's not a problem except for when the show is here.
''I understand you can't dictate what people do when they leave. But in my opinion, (Cobble) hasn't done anything. We've always been fair. If he comes back next year, we'll be more restrictive.''
Tomlinson defended Cobble, saying the promoter made announcements encouraging good behavior during the show.
Andy Humbles can be reached at 726-5939 or ahumbles@tennessean.com (ahumbles@tennessean.com).
By ANDY HUMBLES
Staff Writer
Lebanon police say rowdy behavior downtown because of an annual Memorial Day weekend car show was worse this year with 37 people arrested and 247 citations issued.
The promoter of the Slammin' & Jammin' Car and Truck Show felt things went better overall with 14,000 people coming into Lebanon, despite police making 11 arrests on charges of indecent exposure, seven of disorderly conduct and two of assault.
''We could have arrested three times as many if we had the manpower,'' Lebanon Police Chief Scott Bowen said. ''People drinking up and down the street. This year we had more fight calls. We would hope those who have the responsibility of bringing in the show would look long and hard about bringing it back.''
But promoter Charlie Cobble of Parrottsville, Tenn., and Wilson County Agricultural Center director Larry Tomlinson say the Slammin' & Jammin' show has already been renewed for next year's Memorial Day weekend at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center.
The Ward Center, where the show is held, is operated by the Wilson County government, just outside Lebanon's city limits.
Tomlinson said Cobble paid about $6,300 to the county for use of the Ward Center and also paid for all security and cleanup needed. Tomlinson and Cobble estimated that the show brought in about 14,000 people.
''It's a good event for us,'' Tomlinson said. ''I know it causes Lebanon police problems. I know they are hard working. But (37) arrests out of 14,000? What percentage is that? When you bring in 14,000 people, problems are to be expected. You're going to have problems, just like when you have an influx of people for any event.''
Police say the rowdy behavior has centered on U.S. 231 after event hours, when many owners show their cars on the main strip of Lebanon including the Town Square. This was the 11th year for the show, but police said last year was the first of any extensive problems, with more than 30 arrests made.
Police officials have said a Mardi Gras-style atmosphere surrounding the show includes women exposing their breasts for beads, drag racing, public intoxication and loitering and vandalism and hotels where Bowen said 20 to 30 people were found in one room.
Cobble said his information was that problems away from the show were minimal. ''People were telling me it seemed a lot better this year than last year with a lot more people. Any time you have a lot of people you're going to have a little rowdiness somewhere. Ninety-five percent were there to have a good time. Five percent are there to cause a problem, and the Lebanon police were doing their job and did a good job of controlling those people.''
Bowen said 198 of the 247 citations this year were issued to people out of town. The chief said 19 of the arrests were people from outside Lebanon and 18 were from in town.
''He says it's all local, but what we've seen is that's not the case,'' Bowen said of Cobble. ''We found we did have a problem with some local folks who are residents who sit out in lawn chairs and have too much to drink. But it's not a problem except for when the show is here.
''I understand you can't dictate what people do when they leave. But in my opinion, (Cobble) hasn't done anything. We've always been fair. If he comes back next year, we'll be more restrictive.''
Tomlinson defended Cobble, saying the promoter made announcements encouraging good behavior during the show.
Andy Humbles can be reached at 726-5939 or ahumbles@tennessean.com (ahumbles@tennessean.com).