Beach a problem in warm months

Region

June 21, 2012

Beach a problem in warm months

BY ART BUKOWSKI abukowski@record-eagle.com The Record Eagle Thu Jun 21, 2012, 07:14 AM EDT

TRAVERSE CITY — Naked brawlers. Drunken, unruly beachgoers. Scattered trash and debris.

It's summer, and activity at and around Traverse City's volleyball courts on West Grand Traverse Bay keeps police and city workers busy. The area long has been popular with young people, but authorities contend wild behavior is on the rise.

"The last couple of years, I think we've had a lot more alcohol-related complaints and disturbances, things like that," Traverse City Police Capt. Steve Morgan said.

As long as it's not in glass containers, alcohol is allowed in the volleyball courts and on the nearby beach. Alcohol combined with the popularity of volleyball and the propensity of partying boaters to anchor near the beach makes for large crowds and frequent problems, especially on weekends.

"It just becomes one huge party area," Morgan said.

Police responded Wednesday at about 4 a.m. to a report of a fight near the volleyball courts. One combatant, a Traverse City man, 26, was naked. He ran from police, but they tracked him down and arrested him, and he's expected to face indecent exposure and resisting arrest charges. He was intoxicated and wouldn't say why he was naked, Morgan said.

Two other Traverse City men, 27 and 41, are expected to face disorderly conduct charges after a Sunday incident near the volleyball courts. A Grand Traverse Sheriff's Department marine deputy on patrol in the bay heard the men yelling repeated obscenities at the deputy. The men also said they had a firearm. City police responded and arrested the men, who were drunk.

The "vast majority" of problems are alcohol related, Morgan said. Incidents on the beach are bothersome, he said, but generally don't amount to much more than a nuisance. Serious crimes in the area remain rare.

City police had a stronger presence on the beach years past, Morgan said, but reduced staffing and less funding for overtime has cut back on enforcement in the area, he said.

"When people know the police are around, you don't have as much of that stuff going on, but we just can't get to every place like we used to," he said.

City Manager Ben Bifoss said his office hasn't heard many complaints about conduct at or around the volleyball courts. Policy changes regarding alcohol or other matters would be the city commission's responsibility, he said.

Young people gathered at the beach Wednesday don't to think the problems are rampant.

"Every time we've been here, it's been a really nice atmosphere," said Michael Schwandt, 22, a Northwestern Michigan College student.

Amanda Todd, 21, frequents the volleyball court beach. Drunken incidents aren't happening all the time, she said. And the beach is a well-known hangout for young people, she said, so those who aren't interested in that scene have plenty of other local beaches they can hit.

"Most people that come here are young people," she said. "If someone doesn't want to be around here, they can go someplace else."

Morgan said those who choose to drink on the beach need to exercise responsibility.

"I think everybody needs to know their limits when drinking," he said. "We always encourage people to be responsible and know when enough is enough so they don't get carried away."