News Releases

2009 MARDI GRAS RECAP

Feb 24th, 2009

File Number: Mardi Gras-14-2009

Tuesday, February 24, 2009, marked the end of the Mardi Gras season with an estimated crowd of 143,360 in the downtown area throughout the day. Beginning with the Order of Athena and ending with the Order of Myths the crowd was treated with various throws and bands during the parade. Overall, the 2009 Mardi Gras season was considered a safe holiday.

On Tuesday, Officers made a total of 80 adult misdemeanor arrests and 14 juvenile misdemeanor arrests. 2 Uniform Traffic Citations were issued, 98 parking tickets were issued, and a total of 25 vehicles were towed. Additionally, 10 children were reported missing and were reunited with their parent(s).

For the entire 2009 Mardi Gras Season, officers made 198 misdemeanor arrests; 154 adult and 44 juvenile with 94 of those being made on Fat Tuesday. Officers made 5 felony arrests of which all were adults; wrote 60 Uniform Traffic Citations, ticketed 212 illegally parked vehicles and towed an additional 187 vehicles. Police rescued a total of 17 lost children. The total crowd attendance for this Mardi Gras Season was approximated at 1, 011,841.

Cpl. Charles D. Bagsby Jr.

Public Information Office

Office: 208-1715

Fax: 208-1758