Sheriff's office increases Burning Man arrests sixfold

The number of people arrested this year at Burning Man increased sixfold from last year.

Pershing County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 41 people this year, a sharp uptick from the seven arrested last year. Kidnapping, failing to register as a sex offender, assault with a deadly weapon and battery on a public officer were among the charges.

Jerry Allen, who took over as Pershing County sheriff in January, said before the event that draws 70,000 people to the Black Rock Desert that his office would taking a firmer approach than his predecessor, Sheriff Richard Machado.

From Aug. 26, when early-access participants began entering, to Sept. 9, two days after the event's conclusion, deputies arrested 41 people who were charged with the following, according to a Thursday email from Allen:

Trafficking of a controlled substance: 19

Possession of a controlled substance for sales: 6

Trespassing: 3

Warrant for failure to appear: 3

Possession of a prescription medication without a script: 2

Battery: 2

Unregistered sex offender: 1

Driving under the influence with accident: 1

Assault with a deadly weapon: 1

Battery on a public officer: 1

Kidnap: 1

Grand larceny: 1

Allen could not be reached Friday by phone to comment further on the nature of the arrests, nor how many of the individuals arrested still were in custody.

Additionally, the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office record of citations and other incidents for this year was not available as of Friday since many of the officers were just returning from the playa at the end of the week, Allen said in an email Thursday.

In 2014, all law enforcement, including U.S. Bureau of Land Management, reported 1,902 incidents at Burning Man:

334 public assists

860 traffic stops

520 verbal warnings

230 written warnings

392 citations. Of the citations, 104 were issued on the road entrance, 205 were issued for possession of a controlled substance (117 marijuana, 30 ecstasy, 18 cocaine, 40 other), 52 were issued for multiple drug types and 50 were issued for motor vehicle violations.

The number law enforcement officers on the playa was about the same as 2014. Thirty-one deputies, four more than last year, were working the event, according to statements from Allen in late August. Unlike the past four years, sheriff’s deputies this year were active duty rather than retired.

BLM officials did not plan to increase the amount of law enforcement this year, according to Washington, D.C., representatives prior to the event. Last year, of more than 150 staff, 53 were working shifts during the main event.

Whether participants felt that they were being watched more closely this year was up for debate. Some felt the law enforcement presence more than others.

“It’s noticeably more strict this year. They’re literally sitting out, and if you have any minor infractions, they’re nailing you,” Jim Pehkonen, of Salt Lake City, said during Burning Man. “When they pull people over, often if they do consent to a search, they take everything out and they put it on the side and if they find anything, they arrest you.”

During entry to Burning Man, anyone who did not consent to a search if stopped by law enforcement was denied entry to the event.

“In past years, they’ve used more discretion. This year, they’re wreaking havoc,” said Pehkonen, who said that he had no interest in the illicit behavior that goes on at Burning Man but also found the sheriff’s office approach to be disconcerting.

The BLM, he said, was less off-putting.

BLM agents, who also serve as law enforcement at the event, made no arrests at the event this year.

“I’ve seen them driving around. I just wave at them,” Blake Mills, of San Francisco, said during the event. “I’d say there’s slightly more law enforcement. It just seems like they’re trying to make sure everyone’s safe, not harming themselves or anyone else.”

Last year, the BLM reported that a major crimes team, comprised of both BLM federal agents and sheriff’s contracted deputies, arrested one person for sexual assault, four for narcotics violations, one for domestic violence and two for trespassing.

Pershing County receives funding from Burning Man to prosecute cases that result from criminal activity by participants at Burning Man, although Allen said in previous statements that the county needs more funding from the San Francisco-based nonprofit for the county to take on the “heartache” that comes with Burning Man.