KOLD News 13Complaints Filed After Art Festival Shut Down

Complaints Filed After Art Festival Shut Down

By Dan Marries, KOLD News 13

Complaints are piling up against the Pinal County Sheriff's Department after deputies shut down an art festival known as "Glow."  It took place last weekend on the Triangle L Ranch in Oracle, which has hosted the annual art and music festival for three years. 

"What Glow is all about is basically a celebration of life and light, nondenominational, just a celebration of creativity," says Glow volunteer Dave Squires.

Artists from all over Southern Arizona bring their work here.  Hundreds of people gather for music, friendship, food and fun. 

"It's an annual family art event," says Mike Spence of Triangle L Ranch. "There's kids from 8 to 80 who just show up and have a wonderful time."

But the festivities came to an abrupt end when seven to eight deputies put a stop to the party Saturday night.

"It really was a shock," says Squires. "Basically, I think that they thought it was a rave with a lot of underage kids on drugs or something.  It was just the opposite.  It was a family event."

With an estimated 600 people in attendence, parking became an issue.  Deputies say all those cars were blocking the road outside the ranch.  But many participants say one deputy in particular overstepped his authority, and now at least 50 complaints have been made to the department.

"He got behind the microphone and told everybody this was an illegal gathering, and that we had to leave immediately or else be arrested," Squires says.  "It really was a shock."

But despite what happened, organizers say they hold no animosity towards the Pinal County Sheriff's Department.  They even had a one-on-one meeting with the sheriff himself.

"I was impressed with his sincerity," Spence says.  "I'm confident he's going to make corrections that need to be made, and he's going to help us next year."

The Pinal County Sheriff's Department is conducting its own investigation.  One of the deputies involved is on desk duty while the investigation proceeds.  

The department has called a public meeting to discuss the situation. It will be held Thursday morning at 11 at the Oracle Community and Senior Center.