Date: 5 Jan 1994 20:44:08 GMT

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     BALTIMORE COUNTY DROPS CALL FOR PROBE OF "RAVE" PARTY

          Police say nothing illegal was observed


by Glenn Small [staff writer]

     In the hours following an all-night teen-age rave party at the 
Timonium Fairgrounds new Year's Eve, Baltimore County executive Roger 
Hayden called for county police and prosecuters to fully investigate 
alleged drug and alcohol use at the party.  

     By yesturday, that call had faded like a bad hangover.  

     "We're not going to do anything about the party that was just 
held," said sgt. Stephen Doarnberger, a county police spokesman.  

     "We don't ahve any complaints.  Our officers didn't observe 
anything illegal going on."

     County officials resersed course yesturday afternoon after Mr. 
Hayden met with police chief Michael D. Gambrill; deputy state's attorney 
Sue A. Schenning; Nancy West, an assistant county attorney; and Michael 
M. Gimbel, director of the office of substance abuse.

     After the meeting, Mr. Gimbel said county officials were 
considering ways to better monitor and control rave parties in Baltimore 
County.

     "We're not out to ban rave parties in Baltimore County," he 
said.  "We want them to have events for kids that are alcohol-free and 
secure."

     The debate over what happened at the party, held in the Cow 
Palace of the state fairgrounds from 10 PM Friday night to midday 
Saturday, continued yesturday.

     Although he saw no overt drug use, or drinking, Mr. Gimbel said, 
he believes illegal drugs were being used and alcohol was consumed.  He 
said he saw people smoking in cars no the parking lot, which was littered 
with empty beer bottles and alchol containers.

     Mr. Gimbel, who considers himself an expert on drug use, said he 
believes the people were smoking marijuana.

     He also said he thought security was poor and that the darkened 
dance floor was dangerous.

     "We're very fortunate and grateful that ntohing really horrible 
happened," he said.  "Our concern is that something terrible could happen."

     Lonnie Fisher, who organized the party said yesturday that he was 
glad the investigetion had been called off and tat he had ntohing to hide.

     "I welcome and investigation," he said.

     About 2500 young people attended the party paying $20 to $25 each 
to dance to loud techno-music and revel in an acompanying laser light show.

     Thirteen private security guards monitored the entrances and 
checked for alcohol, glass containers and weapons.  The searches were not 
full bodied searches.

     Mr. Gimbel said he visited the party at 10 PM Friday and 9:30 AM 
Saturday.

     He said he saw what he believed were people under age 18 t the 
party, including 12- and 13- year-olds.

     Mr. Fisher called the accusations "absolutly rediculous" and 
criticized Mr. Gimbel for not allerting police if he thought something 
illegal was happening.

     "If he saw 12- or 13- year old kids there, why didn't he call the 
police?"  asked Mr. Fisher.

     "What kind of public official is he?  If he aw all of those 
things, why didn't call police?"

     Mr. Gimbel said he was "in a really awkward position."  On the 
one hand, he wanted to call polie and fire officials and shut the party 
down, he said, but on the other, he was afraind such action might cause a 
riot.

     Mr. Fisher said he didn't see any underaged children at the party 
or anyone using illegal drugs.  If he had, he said, he would have asked 
them to leave or allerted police officers who were outside.

     Emily Dougal White, 24, worked for the company that provided the 
party's sound equipment.  She said she has worked various concerts, 
public events and more than 20 rave parties.

     Ms. White said she saw people at the party who she believes were 
on drugs, but that she didn't see anybody take drugs.  She said she also 
has seen people on drugs at Dolly Parton and Niel Diamond concerts.

     "You get that in any large crowd,"  she said.  "The kids did
behave themselves."