Hoboken ‘Santas’ Behave Badly During Pub Crawl, Cops Make 5 Arrests

HOBOKEN, NJ — Another Santa Con has come and gone in Hoboken, leaving another string of ridiculous, alcohol-fueled incidents in its wake, authorities say.

Saturday’s “Ho-Ho-Hoboken SantaCon” pub crawl – an annual event that takes place in the Mile Square City on a weekend before Christmas – may have drawn about 3,700 revelers, according to its Facebook page.

Among the ridiculous:

• Multiple groups of Santas throwing snowballs at passerby on Washington and Willow streets
• A “disorderly” Santa who refused to produce his I.D., shoved an officer and took off running
• Several urinating in public offenses
• A pair of women passed out at Dunkin’ Donuts

The event ended in five arrests this year - down from nine in 2015 - but may have caused more than 350 calls for service between noon and 4 a.m., Hoboken Police Chief Kenneth Ferrante stated Sunday.

Police issued 30 summonses for city ordinances, ranging from urinating in public to having open alcohol containers. Emergency responders also received 23 ambulance calls, none of which involved serious injury.

The extra police details during the weekend – which included about 40 additional officers - may have local taxpayers about $30,000 to $35,000, Ferrante told NJ.com.

Ferrante provided sportscaster-like, tongue-in-cheek live updates of Santa Con incidents via his Twitter account.

Event organizers warned participants about public intoxication and obeying local laws in the original Facebook post.

“Being drunk and/or disorderly in public will tarnish Santa's reputation. One bad santa can ruin things for an entire location because we're all dressed the same, duh. Also, it's an offense and will get you arrested. Remember that there is no bail fund for incarcerated Santas and if you cross the line you'll be on your own. Don't be that Santa.”

Other tips from event organizers included:

• “Don't black out.”
• “Santa doesn't drink & drive. If you're going to drink you must make sure that you can get safely home without driving yourself. Check public transport, carpool with a designated sober driver, make arrangements to sleep over at someone's place etc.”
• “Don't urinate in public… imagine your child-self witnessing Santa doing that… you'd be scarred forever!”

When the dust began to clear on Sunday, Ferrante praised the efforts of local police during the event.

“I again want to personally thank all of the Hoboken Police Department commanders, supervisors, officers and dispatchers for exemplary work,” Ferrante wrote.

• See related article: SantaCon Pub Crawl Returns To Hoboken For 2015

Photo: Kenneth Ferrante, Twitter

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