Rancho Cordova had to shut its fireworks show early due to rowdiness, sad story..
An excerpt.
Hooligans ruined show, police say
Rancho Cordova fireworks program is cut short after a large group of men allegedly charges officers.
By Ryan Lillis -- Bee Staff Writer Published 12:01 am PDT Thursday, July 6, 2006
For nearly three days, Rancho Cordova's annual July Fourth event in Hagan Community Park moved along in peace. It was the last hour or so that caused all the headaches.
That's when two melees between city police and a group of 20 to 30 people led to the event's only arrest and an early ending to Tuesday night's fireworks display, just before the finale. The abrupt end to the show sent the estimated 5,000 people in attendance home early, resulting in a lot of swearing and a few recycling bins getting kicked.
"Everyone wanted their money back," said Rancho Cordova resident David Rivera, 30, who brought his 10-year-old niece. "People started throwing their own fireworks into the air."
Police officials Wednesday detailed the events that led up to the disappointment and had people like Rivera fuming over the $5 they had spent on parking.
Just a few minutes before the fireworks were scheduled to begin Tuesday, a private security officer working for the event allegedly saw a 17-year-old boy hit his girlfriend, Rancho Cordova Police Chief Tom McMahon said. When the officer intervened, the suspect shoved him and threatened his life, McMahon said.
The incident occurred in an "isolated area" where some people had gathered to watch the fireworks, McMahon said.
The chief said the suspect's friends quickly joined in the confrontation. Nearby vendors called for more police, and soon five police officers -- one armed with a pepper-ball gun -- and two or three security guards were on the scene.
The suspect, whose name was not released, was briefly detained but later released to his parents, McMahon said.
As the fireworks display started, the group advanced on the police officers, and one officer fired the pepper balls, McMahon said. The group broke up, regrouped and charged again before police shot one man, identified as 19-year-old Richard Hills of Rancho Cordova, with a Taser gun, McMahon said.
Hills was later arrested, McMahon said. Five or six juveniles also were detained in connection with the fight but were all released to their parents, McMahon said, adding there was no indication that alcohol was to blame for the situation.
McMahon said it was clear to police that the group had arrived at the park "to start problems and get into fights, and they were not there for the fireworks."
"It's unfortunate that the whole of the event will be judged by the last five minutes," said David Sander, a Rancho Cordova city councilman and the chairman of the committee that organized the annual event of picnics, vendors and live music.
