A Duluth City Council candidate had his second run-in with Duluth police in a month at Carnival Thrillz when he tried to organize a music event there Saturday without proper permits.
Officers cited Robert Wagner and another adult for organizing the event at the indoor amusement park, 329 S. Lake Ave. The case has been sent to the city attorney's office for review and possibly more charges, according to police spokesman Brad Wick.
Wagner, who ran for mayor in 2007 and is running for the city's 2nd District council seat, said Monday that he could not immediately comment but would make a statement later.
In early May, police responded to Carnival Thrillz twice in one night to deal with complaints about noise coming from a campaign fundraising party for Wagner. Police allowed the party to continue but told organizers to reduce the noise. Wick said he was told that Wagner, a graphic designer and concert and event promoter, later was issued a citation for not obtaining a proper permit for that event.
On Saturday, police went to Carnival Thrillz again after being told that Wagner was holding another event with music there, Wick said. Between 50 and 75 people had lined up at the door by 9:20 p.m., Wick said. Officers talked with Wagner and other show promoters and asked whether they had obtained permits. When they said they didn't, Wick said they were told to cancel the show.
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"But at 10 p.m. they opened the doors and let people in," he said. "They decided to let people in for free, which made things even more difficult."
At that point more officers were called in to disperse the party, Wick said. Two people were arrested, including a 15-year-old that Wick said hit an officer in the face. Police attempted to use a tazer on the teen, but Wick said the probes didn't adequately stick into the teen's skin. The other person was arrested on an outstanding warrant from Hennepin County.
Police didn't leave Carnival Thrillz until about 12:50 a.m. Sunday to ensure that everyone had left the building. Wick said people at Saturday's event ranged from age 8 to their 40s.
