Detroit police update 2024 NFL draft arrest totals
A total of 18 people were arrested in and around the official NFL draft zone during the three-day event in late April, a Detroit police deputy chief told the Board of Police Commissioners on Thursday. Previously, the department reported just two arrests in the official event area.
An additional 16 people were arrested outside the barricades, including in Greektown and near Little Caesars Arena, the department said after an official was asked by a member of the department’s oversight board at its weekly meeting.
More than 775,000 people visited downtown Detroit during the event from April 25 through 27, setting a record for draft attendance.
Inside the barricades, a male and female were arrested for minor incidents and two juveniles were detained for fighting, the department has said.
Outside the so-called footprint, people were arrested for issues including fighting, malicious destruction of property and trespassing, the department said.
Detroit police significantly boosted downtown patrols for the event, as did federal, state and county law enforcement officials. Metal detectors were stationed at event entrances and on sidewalks as far as blocks away.
City officials took a victory lap after the overwhelmingly peaceful event.
"That old nonsensical of stories of Detroit from the '80s, it's over with,” Detroit Police Chief James White was quoted as saying by CBS News. “We're a different city.”
This story was updated on May 11 to reflect a new arrest total provided by the department. Deputy Chief Jacqueline Pritchett previously told the Board of Police Commissioners that a total of 20 people were arrested throughout the draft weekend.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit police update 2024 NFL draft arrest totals
