TMZ went all out at Comic-Con this year, looking at police reports from Comic-Con and uncovering all sorts of inappropriate behavior:
According to the report… one person was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, five people were issued citations, and 12 additional incidents prompted ongoing criminal investigations… We’re told all incidents are related to events in and around Comic-Con.
There were three assaults with a deadly weapon, several thefts and a number of driving tickets, including driving over the center line. There was also some vandalism.
Let’s be honest…that’s not a lot considering there are about 200,000 people surrounding downtown San Diego. Apparently TMZ was hoping to find some dirty, fun crime waves, but Comic-Con is about having fun, and given the amount of alcohol and other mood-altering substances flowing at Comic-Con — and the lengthy hotlines — this report suggests my The perception is that this is a fairly orderly group. Security and the safety of attendees is indeed the biggest concern for show organizers, and San Diego city officials also stepped out in large numbers to maintain order.
They’re always tinkering with things. A new San Diego Coast Commission rule means campers staying overnight in Hall H can’t line up on the bayside sidewalk. (This was mentioned in the talkback panel.) So the classic sight of people sleeping (or more likely trying to sleep) in makeshift camps along the marina was gone this year…and I guess forever.
Of course, with so many people coming to one place, the cycle of life comes into play. Babies have been born at Comic-Con, but there have also been quite a few deaths over the years. In my decades of attending events, I’ve witnessed several street fights, and scuffles between pro players provide vivid fodder for BarCon (without names).
Perhaps the most famous incident of violence at SDCC was the 2010 Hall H stabbing incident. A Marvel screening nearby. Contemporary reporting:
Next up, Hall H showcases the stars of the upcoming films Paul and Cowboys & Aliens, followed by a Marvel Studios panel discussion on Captain America and Thor, which one attendee might have been a little too eager to see. movie. “Basically, during Comic-Con, in Hall H, before a screening, two men got into an argument,” San Diego Police Department Officer Gary Mondesir, who was at the scene, told CBR. One male attacked another male, stabbing him in the side of the eye with a pen.
The pen stabber was taken into custody before he could cause any more harm. He reportedly became angry when he told the victim to get out of her seat and the victim wanted to stay for the next panel. There’s no word on whether this pen is just a Bic pen or a very fancy pen that has a ship on it that moves back and forth when you tilt it.
This was in the early days of Hall H seats being insecure, and there was no doubt that the novel experience generated more media interest—and staying on the next panel was now a hallowed right in Hall H.
Still, sex trafficking headlines do get people’s attention. I went to my local acai bowl shop this weekend and my acai man noticed that he hadn’t seen me in a while. “Oh, I was at Comic-Con,” I said.
“I heard… someone was arrested for human trafficking!” he shouted as he cut a banana. This is not the reaction I usually get when I mention Comic-Con to people.
“Well, I guess so, but there’s a lot more to it,” I replied.
“Yeah, I heard Robert Downey Jr. is Dr. Doom!”
It looks more like it now!
Does Comic-Con have a dirty underbelly? There are thousands of people anywhere, and some of them are up to no good, and of course, you should be wary, especially when it comes to valuable Funko Pop. But overall, San Diego police appear to have a good handle on things, according to this Notepad report.
