Police Arrest 24 at Weekend Phish Concerts at Merriweather

Howard County Police arrested and handed out citations to dozens at the weekend’s Phish concerts at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia.

Police arrested 21 for drug-related offenses, three for trespassing and handed out an additional 22 citations for underage drinking, according to police spokeswoman Elizabeth Schroen. Five of those arrested were from Maryland.

According to a press release, Merriweather event organizers work in partnership with police at events, and additional resources were allocated for the Phish concerts, which, according to the department, “have historically shown increased drug activity.”

“We evaluate the size of the crowd and our past dealings with the events and crowds to anticipate needs and enforce the law,” Schroen told Patch.

“Phish concerts tend to draw a number of people from out of state, and we had a few issues,” she added.

Police seized marijuana, hashish, ecstasy, nitrous oxide and methamphetamines, while confiscating $2,000 in cash—as evidence of drug transactions—and three vehicles containing drugs, officials said.

Officers also provided security for the weekend’s events, which saw more than 35,000 people between both days.

Phish is a jam band in the tradition of the Grateful Dead and specializes in long improvisational songs.