RodeoHouston to Boost Security After Carnival Chaos

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A chaotic scene in the carnival area of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on Saturday night has patrons calling for measures to control crowds but RodeoHouston officials declined to comment beyond a brief statement saying they would deploy more security officers as needed. “This is crazy. It’s so ghetto now,” a Houston woman wrote on Facebook with a link to a TV report on Saturday night’s events. The woman said her granddaughters witnessed the mayhem and don’t ever want to go back to the rodeo again. Initial reports from RodeoHouston referenced a possible active shooter in the carnival area hours after the Kelly Clarkson show ended. People were running and screaming but law enforcement and rodeo officials promptly refuted claims of a shooting, stabbing or gun on carnival grounds. Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s official response, issued Monday morning, was: “Saturday night, fights occurred in the carnival area, causing some guests to run and create confusion. Out of an abundance of caution, the carnival closed early to prioritize the safety of our guests. Law enforcement and on-site security responded immediately. “We hold daily meetings with law enforcement and are working with them on an elevated level,” the statement continued. “Law enforcement and the Rodeo are actively monitoring social media and deploying additional officers as needed. Together, we are taking proactive steps to help ensure this type of incident does not occur again and to maintain a safe environment for our guests.” When asked follow-up questions about whether shutting down the carnival early is a common occurrence and if any changes would be implemented to ensure a safer experience for guests, RodeoHouston officials referred back to their statement. Guests who were on the scene Saturday night filled in the blanks of what happened, posting videos of several separate fights and suggesting that the carnival area has become a hangout for unsupervised young “thugs” and scantily-clad women, taking away from the family-friendly atmosphere embraced by the HLSR for decades. Videos showed what appeared to be teenage boys throwing punches and girls pulling each other’s hair and hitting each other. In one video, a wig goes flying into the crowd. Houston social media influencer Rickey Davis wrote on Facebook that the rodeo atmosphere exposes children to behavior that is “simply indecent, along with vulgar language and open alcohol consumption.” “If the Rodeo intends to remain a place where adults and children can safely share the same space, then leadership must adopt and enforce a strict dress code and behavior policy,” Davis said. Some guests who were there to see pop singer Clarkson left around 8 p.m. and said they were unaware of the chaos until they saw the videos online the next day. Guests can gain entry to the carnival area for $1.25 and pay additional fees for rides, games and food. While some have suggested that prices be increased to control crowds, others say the costs are already too high. The post RodeoHouston to Boost Security After Carnival Chaos appeared first on Houston Press.

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