An altercation Friday evening at Summer in the City in downtown Steinbach prompted a police response, and organizers say safety remains a top priority.
Graham Pollock, operations chair for the annual festival, says he was made aware that someone had been arrested following the incident, which happened at the intersection of Main Street and Reimer Avenue at around 8:40pm.
“I really don't know a whole lot about it,” Pollock said Saturday morning. “We were advised that something happened. Someone was arrested and we got sent a picture of the police with a guy in custody. It took place on the street outside the (concert) compound and obviously there was an altercation there, but the police were quick to resolve it.”
No further details have been provided at this time regarding the individual involved or the nature of the incident.
Police and security visible throughout festival
Pollock says while any large gathering carries some risk, the festival committee takes security seriously and works closely with local law enforcement to prepare in advance.
“You try to make sure that you've got enough steps in place to mitigate anything that you can — and we do,” he said. “We speak to the local detachment early in the planning stages of the festival, and they put members out on the street, especially in the late afternoon and evening.”
RCMP have partnered with the Ste. Anne Police Service during the festival, Pollock says, while paid private security staff are stationed inside the concert compound during the headlining acts.
“We’ve also got a company out of Winnipeg that does our security, plus we hire a local organization — the rugby team here — to supplement that,” Pollock added. “We're well above what we would really require because we take it seriously.”
In addition to visible policing during peak hours, security personnel are also stationed on the street overnight, with coverage lasting until 7 a.m. when Pollock and other festival volunteers arrive.
Safety emphasized after prior thefts
Pollock says Summer in the City has seen the occasional incident in the past, including thefts reported during last year’s event. Despite these challenges, he says organizers have remained committed to creating a safe experience for visitors.
“It's a big city. It's hard to be everywhere, especially for the security guys,” he said. “But I was really pleased to see the police resolve this last night really quickly, and it was without further incident.”
This is a developing story and we will have more as information becomes available.
-With files from Kenton Dyck.