Promoter Challenges Police Shutdown

Police reports obtained by Fargo’s The Forum noted rowdy behavior by concertgoers at Spring Jam, issues with alcohol and guests being harassed inside the venue at the Days Inn before officers pulled the plug on the event.

Following the cancellation, there was “close to a riot” outside the hotel with concertgoers “bouncing around and dancing” on a car and throwing money into the air, the report said.

Promoter Jason Grant disagreed, telling the paper the manager of the hotel called police after just two minor incidents – a concertgoer smoking marijuana and an argument outside the facility.

“There wasn’t a problem, I don’t think, until they stopped the show right before the main act,” Grant said. “No one was aware that the show was being shut down until all the cops showed up, and it created a scene and it was pretty much overkill.” The police report also cited the presence of members of two local gangs at the event, although Grant contends officials still overreacted in forcing the cancellation.

“When people hear hip-hop, they just automatically assume problems … out of paranoia and fear,” he continued.

Moorhead Police Chief David Ebinger responded to the Forum that he takes umbrage at the claim that officers engaged in cultural profiling

. “We took steps to shut the event down in a respectful way,” Ebinger said. “Nobody was arrested, nobody was abused.”