The Ohio University Police Department posted pictures yesterday of seven Palmerfest attendees wanted for questioning in connection with the fest's couch fire.
Police are asking people to help identify the seven revelers who are shown lighting and standing near the fire. There is also at least one picture of each reveler's face.
Police shut down the fest shortly after 11 p.m. when several partygoers started a couch fire in the middle of Palmer Street. Some attendees also threw bottles and jeered at police and their horses.
The pictures of the seven people are available at www.ohio.edu/police/palmer.cfm, and a space for anonymous tips is provided at the bottom of the webpage.
All we have at this point is just anonymous tips
said OU Police Chief Andrew Powers. The department already has received three or four credible tips and potentially identified one or two of the persons pictured, he said.
Powers said he could not say whether any of the people identified were OU students.
All tips are forwarded to the Athens Police Department, which is conducting the official investigation into events that occurred at Palmerfest.
We have used (pictures) in various times in the past for some Halloween events ... and then some of the other events we've had people out there in the crowd taking photos said Athens Police Chief Rick Mayer at a news conference today.
Undercover officers took the pictures while patrolling during Palmerfest, Mayer said.
Students were torn about the department's decision to post the pictures.
Since it gives us a bad reputation
they need to do that
said Dana Davis, a freshman studying anthropology and human biology.
Freshman Brandon Cohen had a different opinion.
That is kind of invading peoples' rights
said Cohen, who is studying business. But I can also see where they are coming from
he added.
- Elizabeth Lundblad contributed to this article.
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Caitlin Bowling
