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Posted on Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 2:15 p.m.

Ann Arbor officials: Despite 9 fires, night of Michigan basketball loss was relatively tame

By John Counts

040813_UM_NCAA_fires_CS-7.JPG

Ann Arbor firefighters put out a couch blaze on Hoover Street in Ann Arbor after the Wolverines' loss to Louisville.

Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com

Despite several fires set in Ann Arbor following the University of Michigan's loss to Louisville in the title NCAA men's basketball game Monday night in Atlanta, police said it was a fairly quiet night overall.

The Ann Arbor Fire Department extinguished nine fires throughout the city, according to a news release from Battalion Chief Steven Lowe. Two of those fires appeared to be on campus, according to the U-M police incident summary.

Ann Arbor Fire Chief Chuck Hubbard said the outdoor blazes are being looked into by the Fire Prevention division.

"It's really difficult to investigate something like this," Hubbard conceded.

Some of the fires involved burning couches in the street while others were started with other types of furniture, tree branches and other debris.

The chief said the department was fully staffed and that he was actually prepared for more fires after reading about post-basketball game blazes in East Lansing over the years.

"I anticipated it was going to be worse," Hubbard added.

There also was a heavy police presence Monday night and early Tuesday morning, especially in areas like South University Avenue and Church Street, where dozens of officers from law enforcement agencies all over the county were on patrol.

In the end, the people streaming out of Crisler Center and local watering holes were mostly peaceful. There were two arrests and one medical transport the night of the game, said Ann Arbor police Lt. Renee Bush.

The first arrest occurred at 10:40 p.m. Monday when a 23-year-old Dexter woman was arrested for drunken driving after hitting a parked car near the intersection of South State Street and Monroe Street, Bush said. The woman was not injured in the accident.

A 30-year-old Ann Arbor man was later arrested at The Blue Leprechaun in the 1200 block of South University Avenue for disorderly conduct. Bush said moments after the game ended around 11:45 p.m., the man "was yelling obscenities and assaulted the bartender.” The man, who had been drinking alcohol, was ejected and arrested on the sidewalk by police.

The only person taken to the hospital Monday night was a 24-year-old Ann Arbor man who was in the Chevy that plowed into the bedroom at an apartment complex, Bush said.

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The driver of this vehicle fled the scene after crashing into a couple's bedroom early Tuesday morning, police said.

Courtesy of Chase Masters

Three men fled after the car went off Fair Street and ended up in a couple's bedroom in the Manchester Flats apartments around 12:45 a.m. Tuesday. The couple were in the living room watching television at the time and were not injured.

The 24-year-old man returned to the scene of the accident and was taken to the hospital in an ambulance, Bush said. An investigation to identify and contact the two other men continues.

The Crisler Center was filled to its roughly 13,000 capacity for the game viewing event but there were no major incidents to report, U-M police spokeswoman Diane Brown said early Tuesday morning. One intoxicated subject was ejected from the building at 8:10 p.m., more than an hour before tipoff, and two intoxicated subjects were not allowed to enter later in the evening, according to the U-M police incident log.

Also on campus, a fire extinguisher was discharged on West Quad at 542 Thompson St. at 10:42 p.m. Monday. At 1:33 a.m. Tuesday, five subjects were warned for being in the Arboretum after hours, the incident log indicates.

"I thought it went great," Bush said about policing efforts. "Everyone that I saw was very responsible. They were hi-fiving us and we were hi-fiving them. I think it was a good day. I'm just sad they didn't win, but to get this far is amazing."

John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.

Comments

John Counts

Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 2:04 a.m.

I think to put it into context, one should look at the story AnnArbor.com reporter Kyle Austin wrote the other day about what happened in 1989 when there were more arrests, injuries and general mayhem -- not to mention $84,000 in damage:: http://www.annarbor.com/sports/arrests-injuries-and-84000-in-damage-followed-michigans-1989-national-title-win/

Ben Lilley

Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 11:41 p.m.

This article is bothersome. First, that nine fires in one night in the city I live in is "relatively lame". This implies that we expect more fires or problems. While I expect the fire department to prepare for the worst I don't expect this town to act the worst they can. I'm not exactly sure who came up with the title of this article but its an obvious attempt at sensationalism. The rest of the article at least covers the facts but the title is bad. I'd like to see followups on this serious issue of 9 fires (i.e. where is the investigation going? Have arrests been made? Are these UM students? Are these Ann Arbor Residents?)

Ben Lilley

Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 11:45 p.m.

should read "relatively tame" (not lame)

Elijah Shalis

Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 9:52 p.m.

You wouldn't see this behavior from Albion College or Adrian students.

Dave66

Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 9:13 p.m.

"Relatively tame" meaning relative to the mayhem that would have happened if Michigan won? Just a few days ago, readers posted comments about how A2 is too classy to resort to such antics (despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary). The basic premise was that those hooligans at MSU may burn couches in the street, but the fine upstanding citizens at Michigan? Not a chance. The cognitive dissonance must be deafening.

Lifetime AA ND Fan

Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 9:54 p.m.

The funny thing is the number of Michigan fans who commented after the Syracuse game about how they were classy enough not to burn couches... then a few hours later an article showed up on this site talking about the number of couches burned after the win over Syracuse. I, for one, am enjoying the eating of crow. #everyfanbasehasbadapples

Seth Best

Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 8:13 p.m.

Correction the apartment complex is Manchester West.

JRW

Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 7:50 p.m.

I guess 9 arson fires and a car crashing into an apt complex constitute a "quiet" evening in AA after a sports loss. So glad to hear that UM students are well-behaved and a classy bunch. Dozens of police on patrol all night from surrounding areas, and who is paying for their overtime? Is that UM and not the taxpayers of AA?

actionjackson

Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 10:11 p.m.

That's a big assumption about the fire being started by U of M students. How did you come to that conclusion? I doubt that the 30 year old man in the article was not a student. The 23 year old Dexter woman who was drunk may very well not be a student. Just because it happens on campus does not make it student involvement.

Jack Gladney

Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 7:50 p.m.

Sweet photo there with the banana-yellow block M in the background and the smoldering sofa and firemen in the foreground. I bet the State News and Lansing State Journal could have fun with that one. Thanks for putting that stereotype to rest.

dae

Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 6:41 p.m.

I hate to hear that there was one incident related to the game.

justcurious

Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 6:39 p.m.

I guess the standards for what qualifies as a "fairly quiet night" have changed over the years. All of those fires (arson) and no arrests.

a2citizen

Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 12:54 a.m.

But they are only kids!!! (ok, now turn off sarcasm).

JRW

Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 7:52 p.m.

Unbelievable. I totally agree. As long as this thuggery is condoned, it will continue. All of them responsible need to be arrested with stiff fines and a criminal record.

Brad

Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 6:33 p.m.

That's a great photo, Courtney.

John Counts

Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 1:59 a.m.

I can say that Courtney was tenacious as far as getting out to cover what was going on Monday night. And this was a great shot indeed.

Courtney Sacco

Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 6:56 p.m.

thank you Brad

Brad

Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 6:34 p.m.

Now appearing on MSU alum Facebook pages everywhere.