Pittsburgh July 4 Celebration Arrest, Medical Incident Stats Released

PITTSBURGH, PA —Pittsburgh Public Safety and law enforcement personnel were kept busy on Independence Day, with the city Fireworks Task Force responding to 89 calls and issuing 62 warnings. Since the task force began operations this year on June 30, it handled 124 calls related to fireworks related issues.

Thursday night's Fourth of July celebrations saw tens of thousands of people gather at Point State Park, the Central Business District, North Shore, Mount Washington and the West End for the annual Independence Day fireworks display. The crowds were well-behaved, with police arresting three people and issuing 13 non-traffic citations in the Central Business District outside Point State Park.

One arrest was handled by Juvenile Probation, another was for a firearms violation and the third involved the apprehension of a felony warrant suspect.

“Our mission was to ensure the safety of all residents and visitors and we were successful in delivering a fun and safe evening of festivities," Public Safety Director Lee Schmidt said.

Pittsburgh EMS treated 12 patients, five of whom were taken to area hospitals. The majority were treated were for dizziness, panic attacks and heat related symptoms. The hospital transports were for an injured wrist, seizure, abdominal pain and several falls.

EMS officials also worked throughout the evening to reunite numerous separated parents and children.