2008 Woodie Awards
SSU students say farewell to Free Bowling
David Abbott
Issue date: 1/31/07 Section: News
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"It's not clear what started it," Program Coordinator for ASP Bruce Berkowitz said. "A highly agitated woman and her friends got into it with another guy and his friends after the event was over."
At 12:05 a.m. on Dec. 8 2006, seven Rohnert Park police officials were called to the Double Decker Lanes - six officers and one supervisor - to stop the disturbance involving 15 to 20 people. When the officers arrived, they found members of the event staff trying to break it up, but staff members were getting battered as well.
As one incident was breaking up, another began. The woman jumped on the back of a man who was trying to help, and began pulling at his shirt. Other students were eventually able to get her off his back. She was apparently out of control from drinking, and her mood altered from crying to hyperventilating to anger at the people who were trying to help her.
She finally allowed other students to help her get home. At the request of the event staff there was no criminal prosecution, and there were no injuries. Alcohol was ultimately to blame for the escalation of hostilities.
Many of the people involved were more interested in stopping the incident than in participating.
"It's too bad because it was the last event of the semester and everyone was going home," Berkowitz said. "Double Decker Lanes has been there a long time, and one challenge for Decker is to have an awareness of his neighbors. He can't run the risk of complaints."
In September 2005, the city of Rohnert Park enacted a party ordinance which allows for an initial warning, but further infractions can lead to a $500 penalty if police show up twice within two months at the same address. The penalties escalate to $750 and $1,000 for further complaints.