WEEKEND RAVE KEEPS POLICE BUSY

A rave party hosted in the town of Trenton kept local law enforcers
on heightened patrol Friday night and early Saturday morning.

An estimated 100 people from Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison, Iowa and
surrounding areas flocked to the party at N8853 Highway A Friday
night. The party - advertised on the Internet as "Total Mayhem '07" -
resulted in traffic stops throughout the night and a slew of drug-
and traffic-related charges filed against event attendees, according
to Sheriff Todd Nehls.

At approximately 9:19 p.m., the sheriff's office received complaints
of loud music coming from the party, and subsequently warned the
event organizer that further violations would result in a municipal
citations and possible criminal charges. Due to the size of the event
and potential for illegal drug use, three deputies conducted
aggressive patrol around the area.

Numerous traffic stops resulted in arrests for operating while
intoxicated, possession of marijuana or other controlled substances,
possession of drug paraphernalia and probation violations involving
sexual offenders.

"The sheriff's department takes these types of events very seriously.
Though they consume our available manpower, it is important to
protect the public from those that leave these rave parties while
under the influence of alcohol and numerous drugs," Nehls said.

According to Nehls, a vehicle leaving the party was stopped on
Highway 151 near Hemlock Road just before 10 p.m. The driver was
arrested for operating a vehicle while operating privileges were
revoked, underage drinking, open intoxicants and he also admitted to
taking Vicodin. Numerous other traffic stops were conducted for
traffic violations. Subjects interviewed after leaving the rave
stated cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana and other drugs had a clear
presence at the rave.

At 3:03 a.m. dispatch received another loud music complaint from the
party, and the event organizer was issued a citation for disturbing
the peace. The subject stated he made all of the arrangements for the
party and had permission from the property owner, who lives at the residence.

At 5:49 a.m., another vehicle was stopped leaving the rave and
deputies observed the driver rapidly emptying a handful of what
appeared to be pills into his mouth. He was seen rapidly trying to
wash them down with water. According to Nehls, the driver refused to
spit the pills out and a marijuana pipe and a bag of suspected
marijuana was found in his pocket. The driver was transported to
Beaver Dam Hospital for a suspected ecstasy overdose, but he refused
to state what he had swallowed. The driver was arrested for operating
while intoxicated, possession of marijuana and possession of drug
paraphernalia.

Numerous other traffic stops resulted in operating while intoxicated
and probation violation arrests, including a convicted sexual
offender whom broke conditions of his probation by having a
17-year-old female in the vehicle.

Nehls said many of the estimated 100 rave attendees were underage and
had also brought their own alcohol to the event.