Dave Matthews concert arrests

By FRITZ MAYER

BETHEL, NY — The sold-out crowd of Dave Matthews concert goers on August 5 were, in large part, young people who could afford the nearly $40 for a seat on the lawn and $8 for a glass of beer. As one bemused attendee noted while gazing out over the bopping sea of humanity, “There’s no recession here, tonight.”

While Matthews gave what was considered a strong performance and the appreciative crowd at the back of the lawn occasionally quieted down long enough to enjoy the music, there were some moments that weren’t entirely pleasant at Bethel Woods that evening.

State police arrested two people for selling drugs to undercover cops. Also, police surveyed the people partaking of tailgate get-togethers in the parking lot and charged 25 people with underage drinking. Several people were also arrested for possession of marijuana.

Sullivan County lawmaker Leni Binder was one of the 17,000 music lovers on hand and stayed for the last number, which was performed well after midnight. She also had an encounter with the law.

At a meeting at the government center the next day, Binder, who is the most senior member of the legislature, looking none the worse for being up so late, told her follow lawmakers and other officials that she had been stopped by an officer from the sheriff’s office after the concert.

She said she had been driving home to her district and came upon County Road 53 near South Fallsburg. She noticed that part of the road had been washed away by the recent heavy rains and pulled over for a closer look. She drove a bit further and stopped again at the side of the road.

Then, the officer pulled her over.

“He said, ‘You were weaving,’” Binder explained, which prompted a sustained round of laughter from many at the meeting.