Burning Man arrests slightly down from previous year, Sheriff’s Office expect numbers to climb

Burning Man’s 2018 gathering is officially on the books. Over the past ten days, upwards of 70,000 people ascended onto to Black Rock City to build a pop-up utopia to escape reality and celebrate life. For some, however, the harsh realities of “real life” hit them hard on the playa.

According to the Reno Gazzette, Pershing County Sheriff’s Office reported a total of 43 arrests made at this year’s Burning Man, which Sheriff Jerry Allen said “is on par with previous years.” Last year, the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office arrested 58 people at Burning Man.

Allen expects arrests will continue to climb despite the event’s official closure on Monday, September 3. Many people stay on the playa through the end of September, says Allen. Most arrests were made on charges of drug possession and drug trafficking, which is consistent with last year. Two people were arrested for driving under the influence and another two for domestic battery; several arrests involved obstructing a public officer.

Featured photo courtesy of Burning Man

H/T: Reno Gazette Journal