Violence down at Relays this year

The University saw a decrease in violent crimes stemming from post–Penn Relay celebrations compared to the previous year, as nearly 50 University Police officers patrolled on and around campus Saturday night and early Sunday morning. Last year's celebrations were marred by reports of gunshots, stabbings and even incidents of students being dragged from cars and severely beaten. This year saw no such violence, although University and Philadelphia Police officers still responded to four separate fights that broke out Saturday night. The first began at the intersection of 34th and Walnut streets when a bottle was thrown into a vehicle at about 6:30 p.m. University Police Sergeant Tom Rambo said University Police officers dispersed the combatants but made no arrests. A second fight -- with racial overtones -- broke out at 39th and Walnut streets when several white men started chanting "O.J." at a large group of black men at about 8:45 p.m. University Police Chief George Clisby, who was at the scene, said University Police broke up the fight and arrested one man for aggravated assault. A University Police officer was injured in the leg when she intervened in the melee and had to be taken to the Hospital of the University Pennsylvania, Clisby added. The officer was treated and released. In a third incident, 10 men began fighting in front of the Wawa Food Market at 38th and Spruce streets shortly after 11 p.m. The fight then spilled out into the street, prompting University Police to break up the brawl. No arrests were made. And nearly 30 minutes later University Police officers broke up the fourth fight at 38th and Chestnut streets. Again, no arrests were made. Prior to the Relays, University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich said that his department would be at "maximum" staffing levels during the track meet. He also said Philadelphia and University Police officers would be highly concentrated along Spruce Street between 34th and 38th streets and at 40th and Chestnut streets for the party sponsored by members of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity who live in the area. More than 1,000 people were at the Kappa Alpha Psi party, as some 25 police officers contained the crowd to the north sidewalk of Chestnut Street between 40th and 41st streets. University Police Sergeant Keith Christian said there were no incidents at the party, which continued past 4 a.m. Last year, partygoers blocked traffic for hours as the party spread into the streets. Police also said that last year there were a number of reports of gunshots and motorists being harassed at this corner.

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