Hoboken Police: 4 Arrested During 2018 LepreCon Pub Crawl

HOBOKEN, NJ — When the figurative smoke cleared from the Hoboken pub crawl knows as LepreCon, all in all, things weren’t as bad as they have been in the past, city officials said.

On Monday, Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla said that after receiving a final report from Police Chief Ken Ferrante, he was “pleased that there was a clear improvement in quality of life and safety throughout the city” during this year’s festivities.

The privately organized annual pub crawl took place on Saturday, March 3 this year.

Compared to 2017, arrests during LepreCon decreased by 64 percent (from 11 to 4), ambulance calls decreased by 18 percent (from 28 to 23) and calls for service decreased by 21 percent (from 488 to 386). City ordinance summons increased from 31 to 37, Bhalla reported.

There were three tavern reports on Saturday, compared to 24 during SantaCon in December of 2017. New Jersey and Hoboken Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) Board inspectors reported no violations in any of the bars that were inspected, and the Hoboken Fire Department reported 100% compliance with code inspections, Bhalla said.

• See related article: Hoboken Sees Boozing, Brawling, Urinating Santa Invasion

Previous incarnations of the annual festival – which is not sponsored by the City of Hoboken – have commonly included arrests for assault and DWI, as well as offenses such as urinating in public, disorderly house parties and disorderly conduct.

• See related article: Hoboken 'LepreCon' Arrests Down For 2017

In February, five bars – 1 Republik, Hoboken Bar and Grill, Green Rock Tap and Grill, Mill's Tavern and The Shannon – were prohibited from operating during the 2018 LepreCon because of alleged violations of the local ABC board.

• See related article: Hoboken Suspends 5 Bars From 2018 LepreCon Pub Crawl

“In my 25 years of policing in Hoboken, this was the calmest I have ever seen the first Saturday of March,” Chief Ferrante said. “I am glad that no officers were injured during the event, and I thank Mayor Bhalla for supporting our officers and taking steps to ensure everyone’s safety. I further want to thank all of our Hoboken Police Department officers who admirably handled the long day and long hours, and I want them to know how proud I am of how they have handled the challenges of the past few months and this past weekend.”

Participating agencies involved with law enforcement during the 2018 LepreCon included the Hoboken police and fire departments, the Hoboken Office of Emergency Management, Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Parking Utility and Environmental Services, and the police departments from North Bergen, Union City, Secaucus, Stevens, NJ Transit, Port Authority, and Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.

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Photo: YouTube / CBS New York