Christmas in July festivities turned wild in Put-in-Bay this past weekend as party-goers turned on each other in several fights.
Witnesses say they counted at least 11 people being taken into police custody. Catawba Island Police Chief John Gangway confirmed three people arrested and charged to the Port Clinton News Herald's Craig Shoup.
Rahim Duncan, 24, of Bedford, was charged with obstructing justice and persistent disorderly conduct.
In addition, Glenn Miller, 25, of Detroit, was charged with misdemeanor assault. Jasmine Shanay-Sade Little, 32, of Trenton, Michigan, was charged with persistent disorderly conduct.
Regular visitors to the summer hot spot took to social media to express their shock at the turmoil that unfolded. They said Put-in-Bay, while a hot spot for young, is normally restrained. Things got out of hand this past weekend, however.
One man, who visits the islands frequently wrote, “You would have lost your mind. Complete disrespect for the island, property and law. The fact that extra security was brought in says enough. I visit this island a lot and this will be my absolute last time when the tour buses visit….I just don’t understand why folks can’t just come enjoy the island, respect it and leave it the way you found it. Sad."
A tour bus originating from Detroit and packed with visitors were among the hundreds who descended on the Lake Erie island located near Port Clinton. Witnesses blame many from the bus for inciting the fracases that marred the annual weekend celebration.
Gangway added that there were around 40 buses near the Miller Ferry dock in Catawba that created traffic and crowd control issues.
Video of a violent arrest and a fight between two women were shared on social media.
Gangway said it is not clear how the brawls started, but he said between 3,000 and 4,000 people flooded the Catawba Island docks of the Miller Ferry by 8:45 p.m., when more scuffles broke out.
"One story was that it was a fight about a cell phone," Gangway said. "When you're dealing with that many people and only five cops, you deal with what you can."
"We have about five officers there and had to call for backup from the (Ottawa County) Sheriff's Office and state patrol," Gangway said. "There were no injured officers and only one woman reported injuries, but she refused EMS."
Miller Boat Line co-owner Bill Market told the News Herald on Monday that he believes the incident on the ferry started with an argument between two females over what he described as personal matters.
The situation was defused within minutes, Market said.
"The majority of passengers were well-behaved, but unfortunately we will have disagreements when you have large crowds of people," Market said. "I would by no means describe it as a brawl since it only involved two people and was dissolved in a short, timely matter."
