UBC frat party violence concerns police
Last Updated: Monday, September 13, 2010 | 7:53 PM PT
CBC News
The RCMP say they are concerned about violence at a UBC fraternity party on Saturday night, after several officers were assaulted while trying to break up the huge crowd.
University RCMP were first called to the fraternity house on Westbrook Mall around 11:30 p.m. Saturday, but when they arrived officers found the party was bigger and more violent than expected, said Insp. Al Ramey.
"They were dealing with hundreds, up to about 500 people, and about 15 males that were brawling in the street," said Ramey.
A few officers were swarmed and assaulted while trying to disperse the crowd, he said.
"They worked their way into the crowd in an attempt to break up the fight and were surrounded and jostled. Now the extent of their injuries has not been reported to me, but I understand it was minor," said Ramey.
Eventually police from Vancouver and the RCMP's Emergency Response Team were called in to break up the crowd. Two people were arrested for public drunkenness and later released.
Ramey said the level of violence at the party was the worst seen in years. At one point, officers searched the area for a gun after someone reported seeing one at the scene, but no firearm was found.
Matt Parson, the president of the Inter Fraternity Council at UBC, said the problem was uninvited attendees.
"It's just people that really have no connection, no interest in it, coming, causing problems," said Parson.
Fraternity members asked those "uninvited" people to leave, but they refused, and that's when police were called, Parson said.
Both police and the fraternity council are investigating, saying they will be looking at ways to prevent future parties from escalating out of control.
UBC officials released a statement saying fraternities must take responsibility for their parties, but that UBC will work to ensure the behaviour is not repeated.
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