Veishea riot: Police piecing together timeline of violence

• Police seeking information%3A Email ghuff@city.ames.ia.us or call Ames PD at %28515%29 239-5317

Police still aren't sure how or why what began like a normal Tuesday night ended with cars flipped over, light poles torn down and one student seriously injured in Ames.

The riot came during Iowa State University's annual Veishea week, which is meant to be a celebration of the school's original colleges – veterinary medicine, engineering, industrial science, home economics and agriculture – but has seen serious problems in the past.

Iowa State University president Steve Leath announced Wednesday afternoon that Veishea activities for the rest of the week are suspended starting at 5 p.m.

On Tuesday, thousands of people gathered near the intersection of Welch Avenue and Chamberlain Street around 11:30 p.m. They flipped cars, tore down two light poles and four stop signs, and pelted police officers with rocks and full beer cans, officials said.

Ames police have made two arrests connected to the riot but said there would likely be more. They are soliciting and reviewing any photos or videos of what happened and try to identify those involved.

"That's normal. When you're working crowd management you don't want to take away officers for an arrest," Huff said. "Just because someone wasn't caught last night doesn't mean they're out of the woods."

One student, who has not been identified, sustained severe head injuries when he was struck by one of the light poles, officials said. Emergency responders had to force their way to the middle of the group of students, who weren't moving, to get to the student, authorities said. The man was taken to Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames then by helicopter to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines. Leath this afternoon said the student was in stable condition.

The action seemed to move in lulls and spurts over several hours during the night, police said. Occasionally things would appear to calm down but would soon re-start, said Ames Police Commander Geoff Huff.

Officials are still working to determine what caused the groups to gather, then to turn destructive.

"When you hear riot, usually it's about an issue. This isn't something like that," Huff said. "There's usually a flashpoint but it's difficult to put a finger on what that was…There was no rhyme or reason for it."

According to police:

• Between 11 and 11:30 p.m., officers went to a home in the 2600 block of Hunt Street to break up a large party. The party-goers and hosts cooperated with officers and the party dispersed.
• Some people from the party went to the intersection of Welch Avenue and Chamberlain Street. They were joined by others, though police couldn't say where the majority of the people came from. "It was like they were coming from everywhere," Huff said.
• At 11:30 p.m., the crowd flipped over a car.
• Around 11:45 p.m., a second crowd that had gathered a block away on Stanton Avenue flipped a second car. The two groups combined and, after making a loop around the block, returned to Welch Avenue.
• Cheering and yelling, the group tried to flip a third car. Officers moved in but people began to pelt the officers with rocks and full beer cans and the crowd began advancing toward police.
• Officers temporarily moved back from the crowd.
• The group, made up of thousands of college-aged people, began pulling down light poles. Police received word that someone may be injured at that intersection of Welch and Chamberlain.
• Officers and medics "bullied" their way through the crowd, which was still refusing to move. They found the injured student, put him on a stretcher and took him to a nearby fire station.
• Officers moved in again and slowly, in groups of 5-6 people, began dispersing the crowd.
• By 1:30 a.m., the bulk of the crowd had dispersed.

Ames police said they were well-prepared for Veishea-related activities this weekend, but the timing of this incident took them by surprise.

Most problems during Veishea have occurred on Friday or Saturday nights, including the 2004 riot that led to more than $100,000 in damage, caused police to use tear gas and batons to disperse crowds, and prompted the university to cancel Veishea the following year.

"We learned a lot in '04 and have applied those lessons since then," Huff said. "It's paid off but after last night you wonder."

This weekend, Ames police expected to have most of their units on the streets, which will amount to about 30 officers, along with help from other city staff, Iowa State University Police, the Story County Sheriff's Office and Iowa State Patrol.

But on Tuesday night, Ames police had only seven or eight officers on duty. They called in back-up when things began to escalate.

"Like any year, we were ready to go," Huff said. "We just didn't expect it so early."​

Lawmakers, officials respond

Iowa Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, Democrat from Ames, said she was "deeply saddened" to hear the sirens Tuesday night from her home in Campustown.

"The destruction was absolutely uncalled for," she said. "I can't even imagine the pain that a parent is going through right now, whose son is seriously injured."

Wessel-Kroeschell said that while university administrators have made changes to Veishea in the past in order to curb rioting, more changes may be in order.

"If it's Veishea that is causing this kind of rioting, we need to do something," Wessel-Kroeschell said. "We need to make some serious changes."

She deferred to Iowa State University President Steve Leath and his cabinet to decide the best way forward for Veishea both in the future and for the rest of this week.

"They have some tough decisions to make," she said.

Iowa Sen. Herman Quirmbach, Democrat from Ames, said he would be consulting with university officials later today. He said any decisions about the future of Veishea are in the hands of local officials.

"It's disappointing that this happened again," he said.

Ames Mayor Ann Campbell also issued a statement:

"As a community we are saddened by the violence, destruction, and damage.

We are angry about the lack of respect and thoughtlessness of people who would endanger themselves and others through mindless behavior. Finally, we are concerned for the student who was injured, and we keep him in our thoughts."

Leath issued an initial statement early Wednesday morning:

"I was immediately made aware of the situation that began in Campustown shortly before midnight, and have continued to receive information over the past few hours from police and other staff.

"We are all distraught and disappointed over the events that have unfolded near campus overnight. I can confirm that one of our students has been seriously injured and his condition is unknown at this hour. Student Affairs staff have reached out to the family. At this time, I ask everyone to keep this student in your thoughts and prayers.

"My senior cabinet will convene first thing in the morning to assess this situation and evaluate options for the remainder of our official Veishea activities planned for this week."