Cape police use pepper spray to break up late-night party

Cape Girardeau police officers used a pepper spray fogger to clear a crowd of about 250 people Thursday night after receiving complaints about a party at Cape Place Apartments.

Sgt. Rick Schmidt said pepper spray was used after officers received no response after repeatedly telling people to leave the apartment complex's clubhouse and pool area. Pepper spray causes the eyes to tear and involuntarily close and makes breathing difficult.

"No one paid any attention to us," he said.

No arrests were made or citations issued.

The property manager for Cape Place, 1710 N. Sprigg St., said the complex held a party Thursday night but said she was unaware that pepper spray had been used to control the crowd. She declined to give her name and said she could not comment further until she had spoken to police.

The eight-unit apartment building houses mostly university students. Cape Girardeau police have responded to 25 service calls at the complex since Jan. 1.

The first call Thursday night was a report of underage drinking near the pool and clubhouse. Officers contacted a manager and saw that IDs were being checked as people came into the clubhouse, Schmidt said. He said police were told the party would be limited to 75 people.

Just after 12:30 Friday morning, police responded to a second complaint, this time of a loud party with possible underage drinking. Police told the manager the party must be shut down, Schmidt said. After officers made the announcement several times and received no compliance, they retrieved the pepper spray fogger, Schmidt said. Some people left at that time. After several more warnings, the crowd was given one final command to disperse, Schmidt said. "When they didn't comply officers discharged several bursts of the pepper spray fogger."

The crowd then broke up, and police left the complex at 1:10 a.m.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182