After killing, Hoffman critical of decisions for block parties by board of works

MUNCIE, Ind. − As the shock dissipates from learning 18 people were shot, one of them killed, at a weekend block party, answers to how such a crime could have happened here are already being put forward.

More: Muncie man arrested in probe of Sunday slaying, shootings

Eric Hoffman, Delaware County prosecutor, says the Muncie Board of Works fails to adequately regulate large street gatherings such as the one that turned violent early Sunday. Variances to local ordinances regarding noise are routinely granted as are requests to close streets for parties and events.

"I am not implying that these variances caused the shooting," Hoffman said. "To be clear, criminal responsibility for violence rests squarely on the shoulders of the person or persons who perpetrated the violence. That person or persons will be held accountable."

But he went on to criticize the board of works for allowing dangerous situations to form.

" ... even if a shooting didn’t happen, the board of works did a disservice to the public, the residents  of the neighborhoods and the police," the prosecutor said in a statement to the Star Press.

"I have watched the footage of the board meeting.  The board seemingly had no concern or regard for other people who live in the neighborhoods, public safety or the police. The board can’t merely be a rubber stamp. You have to carefully balance the requested variance against the interests of other residents in the neighborhood and the public at large, public safety, and the rule of law.  It’s not like they were playing pin the tail on the donkey at an ice cream social. They were hosting parties, blaring music with speakers bigger than most dorm room refrigerators and several hundred people milling around in the middle of the night. All of this created an environment for crime to take over. I am sure neighbors who trying to sleep were thrilled. Again, these are residential neighborhoods not Bourbon Street. Why do we even have ordinances if variances are going to be handed out willy nilly?"

Board of Works President Ted Baker was unavailable for comment Tuesday afternoon.

A video recording of the Board of Works meeting from July 19, at which the board granted permission for the event that turned violent at Hackley and Willard streets, remains posted on the city's Facebook account. The meeting included discussion of about seven permit requests to allow noise ordinance variances and street closures. All were granted or postponed. Also, the board opened bids for the repaving of a parking lot. The meeting lasted about 16 minutes and 30 seconds, according to the recording.

The meeting included a variance requested by Romies Willie Johnson for a "Welcome Home Party" at 904 E. Willard St. Johnson also listed 904 E. Willard St. as his address on his application for the noise exemption. His was the party where the shooting happened and it was a place where Police Chief Nate Sloan said Monday that law enforcement had dealt with troublesome crowds before.

Johnson declined comment Tuesday to The Star Press and referred questions to his lawyer.

His application was not on the meeting agenda but was considered quickly.

Baker commented that the event "was one big party."

He cautioned Johnson to contact his neighbors about the party because it was to run from July 28 through July 30.

Johnson said he told board members a lot of people were going to be in the city for the Muncie Homecoming Festival.

Board member Linda Gregory asked Johnson if his event was in conjunction with the Homecoming Festival, and he told her it was.

Mayor Dan Ridenour emphasized Monday that the party at Hackley and Willard streets where the violence occurred was not a part of the Homecoming event, which was conducted in McCulloch Park.

Johnson asked the noise variance be granted until 1 a.m. each night. Baker told him a noise variance could only go until midnight. He agreed.

The board approved the event without dissent.

The shooting happened about 1:14 a.m. Sunday morning. Johnson's application for the variance said there would be as many as 75 people at the event. The crowd was estimated to have been about 1,000 people.

In defense of the BOW, Ridenour's office issued a statement Tuesday:

"In the month of July, the Board of Works received well over a dozen variance requests for parades, family gatherings, neighborhood parties, fundraisers, and other events," the statement said. "Our Board of Works is comprised of unpaid community members, who volunteer their time on a weekly basis. The Board of Works did not 'rubber stamp' a party with 'blaring music' and 'several hundred people milling around in the middle of the night.' The applicant made a reasonable request, to host a maximum of 75 people and play music until midnight. The Board of Works is tasked with judging the information they are presented with – not foreseeing the future."

Ridenour's office also said the city working to improve the applicant system in the wake of the shooting.

"We are committed to investigating the application process and determining how we can improve this system, whether by increasing responsibilities of organizers to provide security and prevent gatherings from growing larger than the planned size, or increasing the ability of police to swiftly disband unruly crowds," the statement said. "This is why Mayor Ridenour has launched a multi-agency taskforce, to review these processes and create a better system in the future. Prosecutor Hoffman was asked Sunday to serve on this taskforce, and we are looking forward to his expertise."

David Penticuff is a reporter at The Star Press. He can be contacted at dpenticuff@gannett.com.

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This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: After slaying, Hoffman says board a 'rubber stamp' for block parties