Huge crowds didn't mean big St. Patrick's Day arrest numbers

Despite huge crowds on a summer-like Saturday, Cedar Rapids police made just one more arrest on St. Patrick's Day this year than they did in 2011, and several fewer than in 2010.

Arrests for public intoxication (17) and drunken driving (6) were the most common of Saturday's 36 arrest, according to a police count of arrests between 1 p.m. and 4 a.m. Sunday. One arrest each was for assault and public urination, two each for disorderly conduct and theft.

Police Sgt. Cristy Hamblin said the huge crowd for the downtown parade may have prevented a few arrests.

"One commander said there were more people there than they had estimated in previous years," said Hamblin. "We had some concerns as far as the sheer numbers. Perhaps there were more intoxicated people, but the crowd was so thick (officers) couldn't get to them."

Police arrested 35 people during the same period on St. Patrick's Day 2011, a Thursday with a 68-degree high temperature. There were 12 arrests for public intoxication last year, three for drunken driving, two for assaults and three for disorderly conduct.

There were 44 arrests on St. Patrick's Day 2010, a Wednesday with a high of 58. There were 20 arrests for public intoxication, six each for drunken driving and public urination, and two for assault.

Iowa City police arrested 15 people for public intoxication Friday and Saturday and three for drunken driving. There were two arrests each for underage possession of alcohol and having an open container.