400 Arrested at Wisconsin Block Party

A block party at the University of Wisconsin this weekend resulted in about 400 arrests, a 10 percent jump from last year and the most in the party's history, the Badger Herald reports. Around 10,000 people attended the party, which produced no major fights or incidents but did prompt police to shut down house parties for excessive noise and overcrowding. Most of the arrests were for infractions such as open containers of alcohol on public property or underage drinking.

Critics of the arrests say the heavy police presence has given the party an undue bad reputation. "I'm not blaming the cops," said the alderman whose district includes the area. "I'm just saying that their pro-arrest, zero-tolerance policy of heavy enforcement of all laws makes it seem as if this party is absolutely out of control, which it is not."