UPD also assists JSO with Gator Bowl security

Ludacris came to the UNF Amphitheatre Oct. 29, and brought with him many possible security concerns, but overall, UPD officials said the concert was a success.

Assistant Police Chief Mark Richardson said the normal amount of officers working is six, plus one additional sergeant. But during the Ludacris concert, there were 21 officers on duty as well as additional safety rangers.

Richardson estimated the crowd at about 4,000 people, 2,000 less than the number of tickets sold.

The only criticism Richardson gave his department was having too much security.

“We let many of the safety rangers leave early,” he said.

One of the problems some students noticed at the concert was the presence of marijuana.

Though Richardson said no officers saw or smelled any marijuana, Matt Pagan, senior public relations student, said he did.

Another attendee, Scott Beauvalis, a non-UNF student, said he also noticed the smell of what he thought was marijuana.

Pagan said security was at a high level at the show and stopped students from crowd surfing, but he said he didn’t see the officers investigating the smell.

Richardson spent the entire show from the third floor of building 58W looking down at the crowd, he said.

Police reports obtained from UPD also contained no reports of marijuana or alcohol arrests, though UPD was present at Jacksonville largest outdoor cocktail party.

UPD assisted in the arrests of more than 260 minors for under age drinking Oct. 29-30, according to news4jax.com. The minors were fined $65 and given a notice to appear in court, according to the local television station.