'All Time Low' for Crime During Hoboken St. Patrick's Day Celebration

What do you call 11 arrests, 39 ambulance calls and 95 quality of life violations in one night in Hoboken?

A drop in the bucket, according to city officials.

On Saturday, Hoboken hosted its annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration, which has garnered a reputation for arrests and indecent behavior in recent years. But this year, crime and ambulance calls hit “all-time lows,” according to a release from city officials.

The number of arrests this year represents a 68 percent reduction since 2011, the number of ambulance calls is down 58 percent, and quality of life violations were down 68 percent.

In addition to the above incidents, five local bars received tavern sheets: two for assaults, two for overcrowding and one for a medical issue, the release stated.

Prior to Saturday’s festivities, Hoboken police promised that they would enforce a strict, zero-tolerance policy towards public intoxication and violation of city ordinances such as public urination, open liquor containers and raucous house parties.

“A big thank you to the Hoboken Police Department, Fire Department, Office of Emergency Management, Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Community Emergency Response Team, Parking Utility and sanitation team,” stated Mayor Dawn Zimmer.

“There has been a huge drop in crime and quality of life issues and a reduction in public safety costs since the last year of the parade in 2011. In addition, the Police Department received only three calls regarding house parties this year.”

“Ambulance calls and arrests are at all-time lows, strong indications that instances of major fights and dangerous intoxication are greatly reduced,” said Police Chief Kenneth Ferrante.

“Instead of having to react to fights and other emergencies which take officers away from their assignments, they could stay at their posts and focus on proactively controlling crowds,” the police chief stated. “As a result of the decreased amount of arrests, large fights, and persons going to hospitals which takes officers off the street, more officers were able to focus their attention on quality of life issues.”

FIGHTS AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT

During the St. Patrick’s Day celebration on Saturday, Hoboken police arrested Shawn Mestre, 26, of Hoboken, for allegedly assaulting two victims around 9 p.m. on Clinton Street.

According to police, “words were exchanged” between Mestre and the two unnamed victims when they crossed each other’s paths.

Police stated that Mestre was “offended by an unknown comment,” and subsequently approached one victim and stuck him in the nose. Mestre then assaulted the victim’s friend as he attempted to help, stated police.

One victim was transported to Hoboken University Medical Center for treatment of a nasal fracture, stated police.

Mestre was charged with Aggravated Assault and Simple Assault, as well a charge of Bail Jumping.

Around 1:10 a.m. that night, police also arrested Carlos Urina, 25, of Union City, for Disorderly Conduct.

According to police, Urina was “shouting and acting in a disorderly manner,” and began shouting offensive words at officers as they attempted to approach him.

Urina was placed under arrest and later released on a summons.