FAST FACTS:
(Memphis, 7/07/2009)
Some people panicked and took off running after a fireworks fiasco at Tom Lee Park. In the background of the video, now on YouTube, you can see one of two small grass fires set by spectators.
This was Fourth of July in Downtown Memphis. Kate Mauldin was behind the camera filming it all.
"It got very crazy, very quickly."
Mauldin says the grass fires were just the beginning of a scary night. "I did not feel safe."
She says minutes after the fires, a group of teens started terrorizing people at the park. When they ran by, she says they took aim.
"At the tail end there were two kids firing what looked like Roman Candles into the crowd."
With trouble brewing Mauldin says she soon realized there was no one to turn to for help. She says after attending Memphis In May and Sunset Symphony at Tom Lee Park, "this is the first time I've been able to look around and not see a single police officer."
Deputy Chief Joe Scott of the Memphis Police Department says 130-plus additional police officers were concentrated in the areas of Riverside Drive, Beale Street and the rest of the Downtown Entertainment District.
He says because the police department was notified only a week in advance of the fireworks display, only five officers were dedicated to Tom Lee Park.
"If there was a problem we responded. The only issue we were aware of were the fires."
- Grass fires set at 4th of July fireworks celebration
- Group of people shot fireworks at spectators
- Scared patrons say not enough police to help control crowd
(Memphis, 7/07/2009)
Some people panicked and took off running after a fireworks fiasco at Tom Lee Park. In the background of the video, now on YouTube, you can see one of two small grass fires set by spectators.
This was Fourth of July in Downtown Memphis. Kate Mauldin was behind the camera filming it all.
"It got very crazy, very quickly."
Mauldin says the grass fires were just the beginning of a scary night. "I did not feel safe."
She says minutes after the fires, a group of teens started terrorizing people at the park. When they ran by, she says they took aim.
"At the tail end there were two kids firing what looked like Roman Candles into the crowd."
With trouble brewing Mauldin says she soon realized there was no one to turn to for help. She says after attending Memphis In May and Sunset Symphony at Tom Lee Park, "this is the first time I've been able to look around and not see a single police officer."
Deputy Chief Joe Scott of the Memphis Police Department says 130-plus additional police officers were concentrated in the areas of Riverside Drive, Beale Street and the rest of the Downtown Entertainment District.
He says because the police department was notified only a week in advance of the fireworks display, only five officers were dedicated to Tom Lee Park.
"If there was a problem we responded. The only issue we were aware of were the fires."
