ICE GARDENS OWNER SAYS POLICE SHOWING 'RIDICULOUS'

Calling it a waste of taxpayers money, the owner of the Rostraver Ice
Gardens says the show of force by police and other law enforcement officials
at an all-night rave was "ridiculous and unwarranted."

James Murphy, owner of the Rostraver Ice Gardens, was irate that three fire
trucks and more than 50 police, fire and other law officials conducted a 3
a.m. inspection of the Saturday night rave, where nearly 700 young people
were in attendance.

Fourteen people, including four juveniles, were arrested at the rave, mostly
for possessing illicit drugs such as ecstasy, LSD and marijuana, said
Rostraver Police Chief Greg Resetar. Eight adults were arraigned before
District Justice Charles Christner and transported to the Westmoreland
County Jail, with bonds ranging from $10,000 to $25,000.

The inspection of the rave was prompted by an investigation by agents of the
Attorney Generals Office pertaining to fire code and safety ordinances at
the Ice Gardens. Resetar said 11 alleged violations were documented during
the 3 a.m. inspection and will be forwarded to the Department of Labor and
Industry. Several violations noted at the scene were corrected.

Murphy, however, feels he was treated unfairly, and chastised officials for
a lack of communication.

"Why wasn't I informed earlier in the month about any fire code problems?
Why did they wait until there were hundreds of young kids here to do this?
There just wasn't any common sense used," Murphy said.

Resetar said he had met previously with Murphy and expressed his concerns
about the all-night dance "raves." His office and the district attorney's
office have received numerous phone calls from parents concerning the raves,
and that prompted their actions, he said.

"If we had to do it again, I wouldn't change a thing, Resetar said of
Saturday night's inspection. "There was no riot, and we let the promoters
announce that there would be an inspection. "

An Easter weekend rave held at the facility last month brought in more than
3,300 people from all over the area, and from out-of-state, and resulted in
the arrests of more than 20 people on drug charges.

"Am I going to completely stop all illegal drug activity? No, but we're
going to do everything we can to prevent it if we think it's occurring,"
Resetar said.

Murphy feels the publicity sparked after previous concerts was the blame for
the major drop in attendance this weekend. Murphy leased his facility to
promoters Total Xperience Production, based in Pittsburgh, which charged $25
per person. The next rave is set for June 2.

He said the majority of the young people there are "good kids," and "less
than one percent of them engage in illegal drug use."

"I don't condone any illegal activity, especially drug use," Murphy said.
"Our contracts state that we must have police and security people staffed
all night and ambulance people are on standby. I've done everything I can to
communicate with the police and to work with them."

During the police and fire inspection, Murphy said more than half of those
in attendance left, and no one became unruly or disruptive.

"We've never had any fights and no weapons have ever been confiscated,"
Murphy said.

Resetar said one person was arrested after the Easter weekend rave for
resisting arrest, and believes partygoers attending raves are there "to do
more than just dance and have a good time," insinuating alleged drug use.

Those arrested at the Saturday rave included the following: two 17-year-old
males from Salem, Ohio, for possession of marijuana/drug paraphernalia; and
a 17-year-old North Huntingdon youth, for possession of ecstasy. All were
released.

Also arrested was a 15-year-old from Wexford, who was remanded to the
juvenile detention center for possession of ecstasy and marijuana and
possession with intent to deliver ecstasy.

Others arrested were:

(snipped list of seven adults arrested on drug charges and one for public
drunkenness.)