Madison Police were forced to shut down the Madison Avenue bar early Sunday when chaos erupted after officers came to help a woman who had passed out from excessive drinking.
MPD public information officer Joel DeSpain said police initially responded to the bar and dance club located at 624 University Ave. at 1:41 a.m. to help a 20-year-old female from Janesville, Wis., who was drunk and unconscious.
When police found the woman, who friends said had been celebrating her 20th birthday, her breathing was shallow and her jaw was clenched. DeSpain said an officer was able to unclench the woman's jaw to help her breathe better.
As rescue personnel attended to the woman, police noticed the crowd becoming increasingly hostile and interfering with paramedics' efforts. DeSpain said officers reported seeing patrons pushing, shoving and fighting.
It was just a very chaotic scene, and that there was genuine concern by officers who were there that persons could fall and be crushed by a large number of people,"" DeSpain said.
Fearing a stampede or people being crushed, police called for backup. It took 25 officers from the MPD and University of Wisconsin and Capitol police departments to break up the crowd, which DeSpain said officers estimated to be over 200 people, and clear the bar. The intoxicated woman was treated for excessive drinking at a local hospital and cited for underage drinking on a licensed premise.
