FREDONIA, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Fredonia Police Department announced it dealt with large unruly crowds that gathered throughout the weekend on Canadaway Street and in the downtown area of the village for "Non-Fred Fest."
Police said there were around 265 documented incidents and 38 people were arrested for numerous violations and crimes. There are several incidents under investigation and more arrests are expected.
According to police, $11,819 was spent on overtime for officers on Friday and Saturday.
You can find details on some of the incidents below:
- Around 10:45 p.m. on May 4, officers responded to a shooting on Green Street. Police said a victim was shot in the leg and back by a drive-by shooter after an earlier altercation with unknown individuals and was transported to ECMC. The victim is listed in critical condition but described as stable. No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.
- Around the same time, officers responded to an assault on Water Street. Police said they located a man with severe facial injuries who was losing consciousness at the scene. He was transported to Brooks Memorial Hospital and was unable to describe the suspect.
- Around 1:30 a.m. on May 5, officers responded to a fight at Eagle and East Main Streets. Police said they located two victims, one was unconscious with obvious bruising and swelling, and the other was bleeding from the abdomen due to a stab wound. They were transported to Brooks Memorial Hospital and then the stabbing victim was transported to a Buffalo hospital for critical care. According to police, the investigation indicates they were involved in an altercation and the others involved fled before police arrived. The investigation is ongoing.
- Around the same time, officers responded to another fight on Water Street at the Old Main Inn. Police said a large fight broke out inside the Old Main Inn that involved patrons and bouncers and a female started spraying pepper spray at several individuals. According to police, after clearing the scene, fire and rescue were called to treat those who were ill from the pepper spray.
Police said they were assisted by the New York State Police, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, the University Police of Fredonia, the Dunkirk Police Department, and the Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office.
After all of this violence, Village of Fredonia mayor Michael Ferguson is fed up with ‘Non-Fred Fest.’
“We will not have this happen again,” Ferguson said.
Every first weekend of May, college students and plenty of people from outside the village come in Friday and Saturday to let loose.
“You’re looking at a college party that’s basically gotten out of control,” Ferguson said. “The majority of our college students at [SUNY] Fredonia aren’t even involved, it’s troublemakers that come in, get invited to parties, [and] one thing stems to another.”
Local business owners like Sarah Gilbert are fed up with this event too.
“This weekend was honestly nothing that I’ve ever seen in this town,” Gilbert said.
Gilbert’s store, The Pink Door Boutique is on Main Street.
Two doors up the road, the Upper Crust Bakery had a glass window shattered.
A few doors down the road, an apartment complex caught fire.
- Fredonia Police say A structure fire occurred approximately 6:30PM Saturday, May 4th, 2024 at 5 E. Main St. in a third floor apartment, requiring vehicular and pedestrian traffic to be diverted through downtown streets for approximately 90 minutes.
Ferguson can’t cancel an event that has no true organizer, but he assured that next year is going to look different.
“The goal is to try to make it a little smaller, a little safer,” Ferguson said. “If we find that it’s not going to be as controlled as we want it next year, I will bring in the National Guard if I have to.”
Both the drive by shooting and stabbing are still under investigation, anybody with information is asked to contact the Fredonia Police Department Criminal Investigations at 716-679-1531.
