Law enforcement weighs response to rowdy drum circles

Law enforcement weighs response to rowdy drum circles
By Kristina Davis
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

6:53 p.m. July 30, 2008

SAN DIEGO - Plans by law enforcement to break up a full-moon party on
Black's Beach earlier this month was scrapped at the last minute because
authorities couldn't round up enough officers, a state parks official said.
With no peace officers around, the drum circle party July 18 ended up
drawing an unexpectedly large crowd of about 1,000 people - one of the
biggest turnouts yet. It culminated early the next morning with the stabbing
of an Irish tourist.

The incident underscores how far the drum circles have strayed from their
traditional roots, and exposes the jurisdictional complications that come
with policing an event that straddles state, city and university land.

The all-night gatherings started in 1994 as mellow, peaceful affairs as
members of the Rainbow Family - a group of "peaceful anarchists" - sang
songs and celebrated life.

But in recent years, the circles have attracted crowds beyond the Rainbow
Family types and grown into rowdy, alcohol-fueled parties below the scenic
cliffs.

"They know that agencies are leaving it alone and that it's pretty open,"
said Brian Ketterer, an area superintendent with California State Parks. "We
just want to curb underage drinking and narcotics, and let people know that
this is not a safe place for people to party."

Without enough staffing for an operation of their own, state parks officials
recently enlisted the help of San Diego and UC San Diego police departments,
Ketterer said.

Intelligence gleaned from the Internet and past drum circles indicated that
officers would likely face a crowd of 250 to 300 people the night of July
18. The plan was for officers to scatter the crowds and ultimately send the
message that the monthly gatherings were over.

"Unfortunately, for whatever reason, the plan fell apart," Ketterer said.

"All agencies are all spread really thin, and San Diego couldn't produce the
number of officers we thought we needed for 250 to 300 people, and to
provide for an operation of that magnitude," Ketterer said.

San Diego police Capt. Chris Ball said the department didn't feel
comfortable participating in a detail that they didn't help plan.

"If you're brought in at the last minute and asked to supply the resources,
you want to be more involved in the planning stage," Ball said.

"We are very concerned about what's taking place," he said. "Every public
safety agency is looking at the best way to combat this."

UCSD Police Chief Orville King declined to discuss the issue, referring
questions to San Diego police.

Daniel Lambert, 22, of Dublin, said Wednesday he didn't want to speculate
whether the operation would have prevented his friend from being stabbed.

Lambert said the beach's location makes it difficult for police and
lifeguards to access. There is only one road and a steep cliff trail.

Shane Maguire, an auto mechanic from Dublin, was stabbed nine times after
being confronted by two apparent skinheads. The 21-year-old is recovering in
a local hospital.

No arrests have been made in the attack.

One woman who belongs to the Rainbow Family said she hasn't been to the
beach drum circles since last year, when the group decided to stop
participating.

"It's really a shame," said the woman, who wouldn't give her name because
she feared for her safety. "When they were true drum circles, they were very
beautiful and very safe. Now people are getting stabbed in gang fights."


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