JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Rock band Joyce Manor's Jacksonville concert Friday was shut down for "safety reasons," according to the city of Jacksonville. Two arrests were also made.
Video shared with First Coast News shows one man being arrested on the ground and 'crowd surfing' going on during the concert.
Irvine Hernandez, 22, is charged with resisting an officer without violence to his or her person, his arrest report states. 40-year-old Grant Christian is charged with resisting an officer with violence and simple assault on a law enforcement officer, his arrest report states.
According to Hernandez's arrest report, off-duty officers requested assistance from other officers to clear out the venue after the concert "was getting shut down." The venue where the concert was held was at the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center, located at 1000 Water St. The concert was shut down around 9:45 p.m.
"JFRD [Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department], JSO [Jacksonville Sheriff's Office], and ASM [ASM Global, company who manages the facility] combined to shut the show down before the scheduled time," JFRD told First Coast News on Monday. "Together we are responsible for the safety of the public at these large events. The concert was halted when some fan activity became too dangerous, and they were urged to stop. When the band started playing again, the risky behavior continued. Collectively we determined the safety of the public was in jeopardy and subsequently the concert was ended."
Aaron K. was an attendee at the concert. The concert had two opening acts, one from 'Porch Coffin' and the other from 'Glazed,' Aaron K. told First Coast News, as they both played without incident. He says the concert crowd was "just hanging out."
"I stood off to the left side of the stage, looking out for my 15-year-old daughter and her friend because I knew that shows people dancing and crowd surfing and stuff can be rowdy," Aaron K said. "Right behind me were some police officers and security for Prime Osborn. The moment Joyce Manor started playing they rushed directly past me and went to the center of the crowd where people were dancing. They grabbed a kid from behind around his neck and shoved several others. They dragged people out of the crowd and out of the venue while many people asked them, 'What the *expletive* are you doing?' The people they were removing seemed bewildered, since this kind of thing has been normal at other shows all around the city."
Aaron K. says before these events based on his own observations happened, he did not personally hear anyone say not to mosh/crowd surf, etc. He told First Coast News that most venues around the city allow it "at your own risk" and that crowds are smart enough to take care of themselves.
"A lot of people at shows in Jacksonville see each other often and take care of each other, pick people up who fall down etc. A normal part of the culture," Aaron K. said.
An officer states in Hernandez's arrest report that approximately 200 people were inside of the convention center at the time an announcement was made over the PA system that let everyone know they needed to leave. Police say the crowd was "unruly."
"Myself and six other officers also started to tell the crowd to leave," an officer said in Hernandez's arrest report. "There were approximately 20 people standing in front of the stage refusing to leave and yelling at the people on the stage."
JSO says Hernandez was told "multiple times" to leave and was instructed which way to go. Police say he continued to attempt to walk around officers back towards the stage.
"Due to the suspect's active physical resistance, I performed a leg sweep and took the suspect to the ground," an officer stated in Hernandez's arrest report. "I then placed him in handcuffs (double locked, checked for fit)."
In Christian's arrest report, it states that an officer took him to the ground, too.
JSO says Hernandez resisted during his arrest as he was being placed inside of an officer's patrol vehicle.
"I pushed the suspect until he was fully seated in my vehicle and detained," an officer states in Hernandez's report. "The suspect did not appear injured or complain or injuries."
JFRD says although shutting the concert down wasn't a popular decision for some, the decision was "not made lightly or haphazardly." The fire department says "the health and well being of many is first and foremost."