Police, local businesses experience St. Patrick's Day traffic
Local law enforcement found they were adequately prepared to handle those celebrating St. Patrick's Day over the weekend.
Central Michigan University Police Department Lt. Cameron Wassman said the cooler weather played a factor in keeping more people indoors.
“On campus, this makes for a big reduction in the groups of people that generally congregate and roam during these big weekends,” he said. “We also like to think that people progressively become more aware of their surroundings in order to keep safe and realize the consequences of poor choices.”
In terms of comparing the increased amount of arrests, Wassman said every situation is different.
“If someone is cooperative, the police are more apt to issue a ticket when dealing with a crime, if they can, rather than making an arrest,” he said. “The severity of the crime also plays a part.”
Overall, CMU police issued 11 minor-in-possession citations Friday through Sunday morning, down from 31 in 2012. CMUPD also issued two drug violation citations and two disorderly conduct citations.
But, while fewer citations were issued, nine arrests were made over the weekend, up from five made in 2012. Four of the arrests this weekend were MIP-related, one for disorderly conduct, three for drug violations and one for obstructing justice.
CMUPD also worked with the Mount Pleasant Police Department.
Isabella County Sheriff Leo Mioduszewski said his department dealt with no major incidents over the weekend.
“It’s been about the same compared to previous years,” he said.
Sheriff's deputies assisted other local law enforcement agencies, as they do on a daily basis, Mioduszewski said.
Weekend business traffic
Local bars and restaurants said they experienced a huge rush of business as the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations carried on all weekend long.
Buffalo Wild Wings Manager David Kramer said the rush of business Saturday at the restaurant, located at 1904 S Mission St., was no surprise.
Though the rush was expected for Kramer, he did say business levels vary from year to year.
“It's give or take. We're more of a family restaurant nowadays rather than just a bar, and there's O'Kelly's down the street that does the big tent, and that pulls a lot of them away. But we do the green beer and stuff like that,” he said.
Cars filled parking lots at bars and pubs as early as noon on Sunday, though Saturday was slated to be the busiest day of the weekend.
Other businesses experienced even more of a rush.
Management at The Bird Bar and Grill, 223 S. Main St., were unavailable for comment because they were busy with customers at full capacity.
Even businesses such as Kaya Coffee and Tea Co., 1029 S. University Ave., were busier this weekend, though that is not always the case, employee Chrissy Waggoner said.
“We usually are less busy on St. Patrick's Day weekend, because most people are out drinking as opposed to here for coffee,” she said.
