17 people arrested at Wanee

Published 2:15 pm Tuesday, April 25, 2017

LIVE OAK, Fla. — Of the 48,000 people who attended the four-day music festival at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, 17 were arrested, mostly for drug offenses.

According to the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office, during Wanee 10 people were arrested by the Drug Task Force, four were arrested by Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and three were arrested by SCSO.

Robin Young, with the park, said that overall the weekend was very successful, with millions in economic impact coming into the county. She said the arrests were unfortunate, but the park took every precaution to keep the event safe.

“We definitely don’t want people selling drugs at the park or in this area that’s why we invite DTF to come out,” Young said. “Having the task force out and doing their job is a wonderful thing, and we encourage it.”

Sheriff Sam St. John said the park does a very good job of monitoring and policing events at the park, but that some crime is expected with such a large event.

“When that many people get together, you’re bound to have some problems,” St. John said. “It’s just a part of the beast.”

St. John said he thought the event was very successful and good for the county and despite some minor hiccups, everything went really well.

Those arrested for drug possession, including cannabis, LSD, MDMA, harmful chemicals and one case of cocaine, were Paul David Johnson, Mark Allen Braemer, Cody Lynn Harrison, John E Duncan, Michael Grant Hedrick, Bridgette Brooks, Fernando Tovar-Penaranda, Benjamin Andrew McCord, Brett Davidson Ray, Samuel Louis Snyder, Matthew Curtis Keller, Adam Huff, Derek Paul Hedman and Donald Ray Tomczak.

Other arrests include, Sebastian Trent Reyes for trespassing, Matthew Edward Miller for battery and disorderly intoxication, and Jacob Joseph Alt for disorderly intoxication, possession of drug paraphernalia, escape and resisting without violence.