Mobile Police address downtown safety issues

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile Police prepare reports after the Mardi Gras parades roll, identifying the types of crimes that have been committed.

What's been happening this year?

Gunshots fired

Friday, February 8, Mobile Police answered a call of shots being fired near the corner of Washington and Church streets during the Crewe of Columbus, which parades through that intersection.

One bystander in the area who didn't want to be identified talked about the incident.

He said, "It was about 9 shots, and we just got to running. When we heard the gunshots we just ran and hid."

A male juvenile was arrested and taken to Strickland Youth Center. Police said nobody was hit by the gunfire.

Most common violations

Prior to that incident, FOX10 had talked to Mobile Police Department’s Corporal Christopher Levy. Levy said one of the biggest violations this Mardi Gras season has been crossing barricades.

He said, "We've had people arrested for a number of different things: drugs, public intoxication. This year, the numbers of people ticketed for jumping over the barricade are actually substantially higher this year, so, we hope people will pay attention to that, because we have written, so far, about 87 barricade tickets."

The fine? $238.

Fat Tuesday no skinny issue

Of course, parking is always an issue on Mardi Gras Day, but police say there are some things to consider that you may not have thought about.

Levy said, "It was daytime when you parked there. When you return to your vehicle, it's going to be nighttime, and, so, make sure you park in a well-lit designated parking area because, if you find somewhere off the beaten path and you save a few dollars, when you come back, it's going to be dark, and that's when things happen."