Athens Police: Fires, Near-Riot At 'Palmer Fest'

ATHENS, Ohio -- Athens authorities were forced to use their full riot gear Saturday night when fires were started and objects were thrown at authorities.

NBC 4 reported with the FAST FACTS.

All of the following information is courtesy of an Athens police report.

The Athens police responded with the Athens fire department to a fire set in the middle of Palmer Street, mid-block. By 10:05 p.m., the fire was extinguished.

Units moved back to near the Hocking Valley Bank parking lot, and the fire was quickly restarted. At 10:30 p.m., police units moved down the street, and the fire department was able to once again extinguish the fire.

During both extinguishing efforts, persons on packed house and porch roofs and persons in the shadows between buildings were throwing full cans of beer and glass bottles at mounted and foot officers as well as firefighters.

That necessitated the use of full riot gear.

One officer noted that the can of beer that hit him almost knocked the wind out of him despite wearing the protective equipment.

Many other foot and mounted officers were hit by thrown objects, commenting that they couldn't remember a time when they were hit by so many thrown objects.

Five horses were injured, and a veterinarian was called in to check them.

One horse was injured when it stepped on thrown glass, causing bleeding and the need to withdraw the horse from duty. Other horse injuries were hit between the eyes with a bottle that shattered on impact, hit above eye with a full beer can causing the eye to swell shut, hoof caught in a temporary fence, and cut above the hoof by a breaking, thrown glass bottle.

Over the past several years, the multi-house party on Palmer, commonly referred to as Palmer Fest, has been managed by mature Ohio University students, police said.

Efforts have been made by these residents, in conjunction with meetings organized by Ohio University's Office of Off-Campus Living, to have a safe and fun Saturday.

These meetings have been attended by many students various agencies, including Ohio University police, Athens police, Athens City Code office, Athens fire department and others.

Students were advised that the police would be called to the party if there were fights/assaults, street blocking, fires or other dangerous activities.

There was one other fire started. It was behind a house on Hocking immediately behind 19 Palmer while safety forces were dealing with the fire on Palmer. Fortunately the owner's family was able to clear people away and put the fire out.

Many police personnel remain on duty to monitor the community and try to respond to any further attempts to injure persons or damage property.

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