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Updated
March 15, 2015

 

Reprinted from the Times Union

http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Albany-Armory-to-announce-security-game-plan-6129839.php

Armory cancels Albany shows after Migos' concert stabbings, riot

3 arrested, security being reviewed; K. Michelle, Foam N'Glow, 'Aqua' shows out

By Keshia Clukey

Updated 11:28 pm, Thursday, March 12, 2015

Albany

If you were planning on attending the Foam N' Glow party or seeing hip hop artist K. Michelle at the Washington Avenue Armory this month, you'll have to go elsewhere.

The Armory on Thursday suspended concerts for the foreseeable future while its owners, the city and state Department of State investigate security procedures in the aftermath of six stabbings and an assault at a concert by Migos, a hip hop group with the hit song "Fight Night."

Three Albany residents — Dywuan Blunt, 21, Nyguel Williams, 17, and Da-Min Germon, 17 — were each charged with felony first-degree riot after the fight. Blunt was arraigned Thursday and sent to the Albany County jail without bail, according to City Court records. Williams and Germon were released Sunday under supervision.

The Armory can hold 2,200 people in fixed bleacher seats and 2,300 people on an open floor, and the venue had 35 private security guards, five Albany police officers and four EMTs on duty during the concert, according to Armory spokesman Joe Bonilla.

Albany police are often called to help with pedestrian and traffic safety at venues across the city, said Deputy Chief Brendan Cox.

Officers can assist with events inside and are paid for the work, but generally they stay outside unless requested by the venue, Cox said. Before events the police discuss specifics with facility management to ensure there is enough security staffing.

The police officers were never asked to assist inside the Migos concert and were not told when the riot started inside, Cox said. If they had known, Cox said, the officers would have gone inside the venue as if they were responding to a 911 call.

The Armory has been handling its security in-house, but it is not registered to do so as required in New York, according to the state Department of State. The department also said it is investigating whether security guards hired by the venue were certified and registered as working for the Armory, and if the Armory violated state law, the owners and guards could face misdemeanor charges.

Bonilla said the Armory is "fully cooperating with the department."

The city is in the process of looking at all its legal options in regards to the venue, said Dennis Gaffney, a spokesman for Mayor Kathy Sheehan.

The Armory, which owned by the Albany Basketball & Sports Corp., is listed on city tax rolls as a stadium with an assessed value of $1,810,200, according to the city.

Other programming including sporting events, family-friendly entertainment, trade shows, exhibitions and political demonstrations will not be affected.

In addition to K. Michelle on March 27 and Foam N' Glow on March 28, an April 10 show, "Aqua" — billed as a three-dimensional experience with floor-to-ceiling water holograms, dancing LED water fountains and crowd misting set to dance music and drumming — will also be canceled.

Refunds will be handled through the events' promoters, Bonilla said.

kclukey@timesunion.com • 518-454-5467 • @KClukey_TU

 

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