Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 05/00) - Last weekend's Caribou Carnival was the catalyst for plenty of alcohol-related arrests, according to RCMP Const. Denise Potvin.

Over 150 people were placed in police custody temporarily over the weekend -- 74 on Friday and 81 on Saturday, in order to decrease alcohol-related problems and for their own protection.

"We had quite a few people locked up for being intoxicated in a public place," Potvin said. "But overall things went fairly well."

Potvin explained the number of people placed in cells were more than double the amount police deal with on a common weekend.

"I know when we have events like this the numbers do go up," she said. "Often we have to drive people home because we have no more room. This weekend that happened because we had no other options."

The amount of members on patrol over the festive weekend also increased as were the amount of auxiliary officers (trained volunteers) who were working. Close to 10 extra RCMP members and about four to six auxiliary members were on duty.

Potvin said the organization of the carnival was handled well for the weekend festivities as well as for the MuchMusic Teen Dance at Ptarmigan Hangar on Saturday night.

The amount of people in custody "had nothing to do with the organization but only with the amount of people in town," Potvin said, adding the carnival always attracts many people from outside communities.

"The teen dance organizers did really well with security. They did an excellent job."