Menlo Pool Fiasco- Near Riot

8/18/13 UPDATES AT BOTTOM OF POST!
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Click Here for updated post after 8/19/13 Borough Council Meeting

Sunday evening around 10pm on Aug 12 2013 police were called to Menlo Pool for a disturbance.  Early reports are that between 600-1,000 people were present for a "splash party" that paid $40 per person for tickets.  There were reports of borough employees being verbally and physically harassed.  Despite this near riot there were no arrests made by borough police who had apparently called for backup from neighboring towns due to the number of people present.

Residents on nearby streets reported trash thrown all over and people loudly using racial slurs on the streets, cars racing through town.

Here is the invite that was apparently widely circulated on Twitter in the weeks before:

Here is a photo posted on instagram apparently from a party attendee:

Here are a few questions for Borough management:

Why was the pool rented out for a party on Sunday night in direct conflict with what is stated on the borough website that there will be no private parties on Sundays?

Why did it take from 8pm until almost 10pm for employees to place a call to the police?  The party was falsely presented to the borough as a private birthday party for 100 people.  When more than that showed up and were accepting tickets to the event it should have been brought to the attention of authorities.

Why was not one single person arrested for disorderly conduct, littering, creating a disturbance, etc?  Attendess reportedly came from as far away as Philadelphia, now that 600 plus people know exactly where Perkasie is and that our police were not prepared to handle this, does this invite a future crime spree into our town?    Out of 600 people there has to be some criminal element.

Does the borough plan to press civil or criminal charges against the organizers?

If you have any additional information please share it in the comments below.  Residents are encouraged to come to borough hall and demand answers from council and our borough manager on Monday August 19th at 7pm in Boro Hall- 7th and Chestnut Streets.

8/14/13 UPDATE

Contrary to statements by borough officials in news reports, residents report seeing many empty liquor bottles and trash including used women's hygiene pad around the vicinity of pool  Resident also reports hearing SHOTS FIRED in park towards Sellersville and finding empty shell casings.  Follow this blog for more updates.

From published news reports:

“It was way out of control,” Olpere said. “It was not a birthday party. … It was just a big lie.”

"What went wrong was that this was a very disrespectful, unruly crowd.”

There was also a lot of litter left around the pool property, red plastic cups and empty bottles that had to be cleaned up, according to Matt Aigeldinger, council president.

Yet no arrests?

Call the party promoter Ryane Elliott in the Mt Airy section of Philadelphia at 267-252-6597 and ask him why you weren't invited to the "Splash n First Class"

Further Update: according to a source within the Bucks Co Emergency management team the police were called early in the evening for a reported assualt on a pool employee.  3 borough police officers were apparently overwhelmed by the sheer number of people and there were people using drugs right in the open and jumping on the police cars.  Backup was called and responded from neighboring towns as far away as Solebury.  There was also a report of SHOTS FIRED and .22 caliber shells casings were found. 

News Articles

http://montgomerynews.com/articles/2013/08/15/perkasie_news_herald/news/doc520d67a1e9d16380922367.txt?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

All Photos found on social media so far:

NEW REVELATIONS keep coming out.  Residents report drugs including heroin found in trashcans the next day, pool staff literally combing the grass to remove traces of the party.  Police officer witnessed being pushed in the pool, yet despite this ZERO ARRESTS.


More history on the mis-management of Menlo Aquatics Center:

http://perkasiefirst.blogspot.com/2012/07/should-council-check-up-on-menlo-pool.html

http://www.phillyburbs.com/my_town/pennridge/near-drowning-sparks-concerns-at-menlo-pool/article_08e4ffca-b18f-525c-931b-6869dc3134a9.html

http://www.phillyburbs.com/my_town/pennridge/perkasie-considers-pool-safety-measures/article_cfee895c-ce99-59d8-ab84-19b1ac72b453.html

This pool should be the crowning jewel of Perkasie, yet it is continuously being mis-managed.  Just yesterday the following photo was snapped by a pool patron in the mens shower room

8/18/13 UPDATES

Warning Signs- all ignored!!!

• Last minute booking of "birthday party" with 100+ guests
• Borough became aware on Sunday that 300+ attendees were expected, despite this the borough manager Dan Olpere was at home with his feet kicked up and the police were never even notified of a large party on short notice.
• Because of this lack of leadership, no one was present at the pool who was able to recognize the RED FLAGS that popped up when the party organizer showed up:
• 15 physically intimidating security guards dressed all in black
• party organizer with cash box and wristbands
• organizer accepting pre-printed tickets and taking cash at the door

By the time trouble was readily apparent (pool staff assaulted and noise complaints from neighbors) the crowd was too large for Borough Police to handle.  Reinforcements were called in from multiple surrounding municipalities and police and pool staff are to be commended for their restraint in avoiding a RIOT from breaking out.

There were SHOTS FIRED from nearby and bullet casings were recovered at South high school.

CORRECTION:  Police officer was not pushed in the pool, evidently was a private security guard.

Perkasie Manager Dan Olpere's lack of oversight put the pool staff, the police, and the community in danger.

Pool neighbors, parents of pool staff, and concerned residents should attend the Borough Meeting tomorrow evening Monday August 19th 7:00pm at Borough Hall located at 7th and Chestnut Streets.  There are public forums at the beginning and end of the meeting where opinions may be expressed.  

At the end of the day the TRUTH needs to be heard and ACTION taken to prevent another near tragedy.   WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?