Concert Goers Riot After Entry Denied

What started as a private party on Ogeechee Road last night quickly got out of hand. Simply put, too many people tried to enter a rented community center. Several units from Garden City, Savannah-Chatham, and even Pooler police responded, and when they arrived, they found a riot.

Last night, several people blamed a local radio station for the riot. But they told us they had very little involvement in last night's event.

"By the time we got there it was out of control," said Chief David Lyons. "It was a riot. There was nothing more than pure pandemonium."

The riot broke out Thursday night at the Progressive Center. It started after hundreds of teens were turned away from a party. Several fights broke out, which later escalated into a full-fledged melee.

"We told the promoters they had to shut the doors," said Chief Lyons. "People on the outside rushed my officers at the door."

With a party scheduled at the center for tonight, business is running as usual. But the question still remains who is to blame for last night's riot.

"The promoter of the event is to blame," said Chief Lyons. "They had inadequate security. No one contacted us to notify us of the event. They allowed entirely too many people in the building. It was purely greed."

But during all the chaos of last night, a local radio station was blamed for the riot, accused of overselling tickets to the teens.

"We didn't sell the tickets," said Sam Nelson with Cumulus Broadcasting. "We didn't hold the event. Our part in the whole thing was just that one of our DJ's was hired to be a mixer at the party. That was the extent of our involvement."

The promoters of last night's event are Ronnie and Emily Lee. Emily would not comment on the incident, and we have not yet been able to reach Ronnie. The riot is remains under investigation.

Last night, four people were arrested. Police did have to use pepper spray, and Tasered one individual.

Reported by: Christy Hutchings, chutchings@wtoc.com