Los Angeles

More Than 300 Arrested at Electronic Music Festival in Pomona

More than 300 people were arrested over the weekend at a two-day electronic music festival in Pomona that drew more than 20,000 people, authorities said.

A total of 162 arrests were made on Sunday--the second day of the HARD Day of the Dead festival at the Pomona Fairplex, according to the Pomona Police Department. Another 148 people were arrested on Saturday.

Police said most of the arrests were related to public intoxication, being under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

About 100 people were arrested for having fake identification. Ten arrests were made for driving under the influence on the highways near the event or in the parking lot, Pomona police said.

Some event-goers didn't event make inside the event.

"I was entering the rave and they said, 'You smell too much like alcohol. We have to take yout in,' " said Irvin Alvarado, who was arrested at the event.

The event, which took place on LA County-owned property, drew scrutiny from Los Angeles County supervisors after two young women died of suspected drug overdoses at another HARD rave event on the fairgrounds in August.

HARD promoters, Live Nation, raised the age limit to 21 and stepped up security measures after County supervisors called raves a "public threat" and voted to ban such events.

Although the ban was not imposed, officials called for added safety and health measures at music festivals shortly after the August deaths. 

"Instead of having so much police force I think there should be more medical personnel that would be available in the event that people do take too much," said Michael Medina, who attended the rave.

According event organizers, HARD paid for all security, fire and medical personel, including 186 police officers on-hand over the weekend.

This weekend's rave featured multiple artists, including Deadmou5 and Skrillex.

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