Promoter Pays Up For Police

Electric Adventure, which reportedly drew crowds of 15,000 Aug. 9-10, had more than 30 drug-related overdoses and 42 arrests for controlled substances, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato told the Asbury Park Press.

“I was not happy with the festival while we’re fighting to curtail drug use in Ocean County,” Coronato said.

Promoter John D’Esposito will repay the county “not more than $15,000,” although he apparently thought the event went off without a hitch, telling the paper his medical team only treated three kids during the fest.

“We did not see those overdoses. What we did see was a great festival with few incidents (of overdose). We had three kids, and we treated them on site,” he said.

D’Esposito added that he is a father and wants to know that “where my kids are going is going to be safe. If you don’t have events like this, you’ll force the scene underground into warehouses, clubs and private parties, and you won’t be able to watch over it.”

It is unclear whether the festival will return to the boardwalk next year, but both Coronato and D’Esposito agreed the fest would change a policy from this year’s even that allowed re-entry.?

D’Esposito was not available for further comment at press time.