Police want more security for Iowa Fairground MMA
Mason City Police think there should be more security and limits on alcohol if another Mixed Martial Arts event is…
Mason City Police think there should be more security and limits on alcohol if another Mixed Martial Arts event is going to be held at the local fairgrounds.
On Saturday evening a promoter called police at around 8:30 p.m. to a building at the North Iowa Fairgrounds.
Officers broke up several fights among spectators and 3 people were arrested.
“Unfortunately we don’t have enough officers to handle a hundred to 200 people drinking and out of control,” said Mason City Police Captain Mike McKelvey.
McKelvey said a 12 year old boy had to be treated for cuts after his hand went through a glass window.
The promoter of Saturday’s event said Monday that a few individuals in the cheering section caused all the trouble for police at the event.
Marty Elsberg, of Eagle Grove, said Monday that security for the event was being handled by the North Iowa Fairgrounds and that things started getting out of hand when a couple of intoxicated people in the crowd started fighting.
“We’ve had similar situations at different events,” said Elsberg. “But in those cases people were removed from the building. Saturday night they weren’t. I’m not saying they (Fairground Security) didn’t handle it properly, but it did help us when they didn’t do anything.”
Police eventually sought assistance from the Iowa State Patrol, the Cerro Gordo Sheriff’s Office and called in members of its midnight shift early.
Captain McKelvey said his department would like to have a conversation with the fairgrounds management and he is hoping the promoter of any future fight event will curb alcohol sales or have extra security.
