Kent police made 23 arrests on March 22, the day of Kent’s Fake Patty’s Day celebration, with arrests including disorderly conduct while intoxicated, underage drinking and more.

Kent Police Chief Nicholas Shearer said this year’s number of arrests increased from last year, but he’s unsure what caused the increase. He noted that more people were taking part in Fake Patty’s Day this year, compared to previous years’ celebrations.

“The largest increase for a particular offense this year compared to last year is OVI, which means more people likely drove while impaired,” he stated in an email.

According to calls of service and arrest statistics from March 22, there were a total of eight disorderly conduct arrests, seven underage drinking arrests and four OVI arrests.

For the arrests related to alcohol consumption, Shearer said these are typical arrests made during the celebrations.

With the number of alcohol-related arrests made over the past two years, he said people should try to consume alcohol in moderation and when they are of legal age.

“The best advice I have for people to stay safe is to limit alcohol consumption, do not drink and drive and only allow people into homes, parties that you know,” he said.

Problems often arise when people allow strangers access into their homes, as this can lead to thefts and disturbances, Shearer said.

For future celebrations, he advised students to be aware of their surroundings and to feel comfortable calling the police when things start to get out of control.

“We would much rather respond before things are out of hand, rather than once things have escalated to a point that they can no longer control what is going on,” Shearer said.

Adriana Gasiewski is a campus editor. Contact her at [email protected].