Festivals are a great time for everyone who attends, but there is a always a risk of drugs and alcohol making their way inside. Sometimes, officers do full sweeps aimed at arresting those who have violated the laws at these events. It’s not unusual for the innocent to get caught up in those sweeps just because they’re with those using drugs or alcohol.
At this year’s Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, over 226 people were cited and arrested for drug and alcohol use. The four-day music festival, which is held in Manchester, Tennessee, had more arrests this year than last. Forty-five arrests were made along with 181 citations. The majority were linked to drug and alcohol, although there were others as well.
The major arrest at the 2018 festival occurred when an officer saw a bag of marijuana in plain sight in a vehicle. Upon searching the vehicle, 10 ounces of mushrooms were discovered along with LSD, marijuana gummies, marijuana in baggies, ketamine, Molly, marijuana wax unknown pills and Xanax. Close to $7,900 was discovered in the vehicle along with paraphernalia used with drugs. Two men were arrested, 23 and 26, for their link to the drugs.
For situations like above, it’s easy to see how someone could be accused of possessing drugs when they weren’t aware of them. One person may have the drugs in his or her possession in his or her own bags, while the other simply rides in the vehicle. If that happens to you, you have a right to a strong defense. You shouldn’t have to face charges for a crime you’re not part of.
Source: Tennessean, “Bonnaroo 2018: Hundreds arrested, cited at music festival,” Natalie Neysa Alund, June 13, 2018