Officers make 23 arrests in East Lansing after Michigan State's loss to Texas Tech

EAST LANSING — Officers made 23 arrests and fire crews responded to 10 fires following Michigan State's 61-51 loss to Texas Tech in the NCAA Tournament national semifinal Saturday night.

Nine of the people arrested were MSU students, a city spokesperson said. 

Hours before the game, thousands descended on East Lansing to gather at bars and restaurants to watch the Spartans in their first Final Four appearance since 2015. Some 6,000 gathered in Munn Ice Arena on campus to watch on large screens.

After the game, crowds started gathering at the intersection of River Street and Waters Edge Drive, near Cedar Village Apartments, according to a statement released by the East Lansing Police Department on Sunday afternoon.

The crowd soon moved to the intersection of Grand River Avenue and Woodmere Avenue and blocked the road way.

People in the crowd – which police estimate may have reached up to 1,500 people — tore down a street sign and threw glass bottles into the air. 

There were three incidents of property damage — two signs and one police van — according to the statement, which did not list the value of the damaged items.

Law enforcement officers dispersed the crowd without the use of tear gas or similar "chemical crowd management devices," according to the statement.

"The police were ready for this; they were well prepared for what was happening," Mayor Mark Meadows said early Sunday evening. "They contained everything that occurred, and it was relatively brief compared to some of what we’ve had in the past."

One felony, 22 misdemeanors

East Lansing police and officers from seven assisting agencies arrested several individuals — 22 for misdemeanors and one for a felony.

About 200 officers from East Lansing police and seven assisting agencies were on hand in case there was an incident during or after the game. 

East Lansing officers had help from Michigan State Police, Michigan State University Police Department, Ingham County Sheriff's Office (including the mounted unit), Eaton County Sheriff's Office, Meridian Township Police Department, Lansing Police Department and Clinton County Sheriff's Office. 

Meadows said that's standard operating procedure. 

"We always ask other police agencies to assist us on nights like this, only because it became predictable," he said, referring to the past history of crowds, furniture fires and disturbances following MSU sporting events.

Mikell Frey, a communications coordinator for the city, said most of the arrests were for disorderly conduct or were related to open alcohol containers.

The one felony was a charge added on for a person who damaged the interior of a police van while already in custody, she said. 

Meadoww and Frey had no information about cost of the effort on Sunday.

Deputy Chief Steve Gonzalez did not respond to State Journal requests for an interview to go over details. Frey said he had worked through much of the night and provided details for the statement but told her he could answer questions Monday. 

A Michigan State University spokesperson also did not respond to State Journal requests for more details. about the arrests. 

MSU said last week that any students who take part in an unlawful assembly are subject to university sanctions. That could include suspension, expulsion or other sanctions, university officials said.       

Before the game, MSU and East Lansing police urged students and other Spartan fans to keep a lid on post-game celebrations. 

In a joint press release, city and university officials warned people that anyone who takes part in "destructive gatherings" could face criminal charges and university sanctions ranging up to expulsion. 

East Lansing fire and police departments and assisting agencies also responded to 10 small fires in other areas of the city.

According to the statement, those fires consisted of small pieces of furniture and did not have significantly sized crowds gathered around them. 

More arrests than after win against Duke

An East Lansing ordinance, originally passed after a large 1999 riot, made it illegal to loiter within 300 feet of an open fire without attempting to put it out or contact emergency services. Ingham County Judge Andrea Larkin ruled the ordinance unconstitutional in 2016, and police now have to tell anyone gathered around a fire they are violating a city ordinance and give them a chance to leave. Anyone who doesn't comply could be charged with a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $550 fine. 

It's not clear whether any of the 22 misdemeanor arrests Saturday night were due to that ordinance.

Police arrested two men on disorderly conduct charges on March 30 after MSU beat Duke to advance to the Final Four. The arrests came during a large celebration on Cedar Street that included a furniture fire and glass bottles that were tossed. 

In December 2013, police arrested 15 people after nearly 1,000 fans gathered around furniture-fueled bonfires following the MSU football team's victory over Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship. 

Contact reporter Megan Banta at (517) 377-1261 or mbanta@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @MeganBanta_1.