A sea of people flooded Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood on Saturday, packing Semple Street and nearby blocks so tightly that traffic inched to a halt and police moved in to shut it down.
Officers from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the mounted unit, and the University of Pittsburgh police rolled in early in the afternoon, set up perimeter points, and began steering people away from the congested streets. By late afternoon, the area was cleared, with officers sticking around to keep an eye on the scene as the crowds scattered into other parts of the neighborhood.
According to WPXI, Pittsburgh Public Safety said police were called to Semple Street around 1:30 p.m. for a gathering that was "disrupting vehicle and pedestrian traffic." The outlet reports the crowd did not have permission to close the street and that officers had it cleared just before 4 p.m., remaining on site to "ensure public safety" as groups filtered into other neighborhoods.
Semple Street's recent troubles
Semple Street is no stranger to rowdy St. Patrick's Day weekend crowds near the University of Pittsburgh, and officials have been on edge there since last spring. In March of last year, a porch roof on a house along the street collapsed under the weight of partygoers, injuring 16 people and triggering a crackdown on large, informal gatherings, according to WTAE.
That collapse led city inspectors to condemn a porch and spurred closer review of permits and stepped-up patrols on the block. Since then, Semple Street has been under a more watchful eye whenever crowds start to build.
How officials handled the gathering
The City of Pittsburgh's Public Safety Blotter details previous crowd dispersals in the same Oakland area and notes that event permits can be revoked if attendance blows past approved limits. City of Pittsburgh Public Safety says it monitors whether events follow their permits and assigns officers specifically to keep traffic moving around big gatherings.
Officials have repeatedly urged residents, students, and visitors to stick to permit rules, keep streets open, and avoid blocking roadways when parties spill outside.
Initial reports did not list any arrests or serious injuries tied to Saturday's dispersal, according to WPXI. City and university police say they plan to continue extra patrols in Oakland during weekend festivities and will update the public if their enforcement approach changes.
