A Halloween pub crawl that brought costumed revelers to downtown St. Albans on Saturday was followed by a large fight, seven arrests and a response from several law enforcement agencies, according to the city's police chief.

Now, St. Albans Police Chief Philip Bass says he will no longer approve permits for future pub crawl events.

In an Oct. 26 letter to St. Albans City Council members, Bass said repeated disturbances associated with downtown pub crawls have strained police resources and jeopardized public safety.

The decision follows Saturday's Crawl-O-Ween, a Halloween-themed fundraiser benefiting the Alban Arts Center Restoration Fund.

The event was scheduled from 7 to 11 p.m. and encouraged participants to visit six downtown bars and restaurants, according to the city's official event listing. Organizers also advertised games, contests, dancing and drink specials.

But shortly after the event ended, police responded to a large fight outside Club Eldorado — referred to as El Dorado in the chief's letter and in some media reports — on Grant Avenue.

Bass said several people involved in the disturbance had attended the pub crawl.

Seven people were arrested, Bass wrote. Officers used force, and five additional law enforcement agencies responded, according to the chief's letter.

The incident was the latest in a series of disturbances Bass attributes to downtown pub crawls, including several fights following a St. Patrick's Day event in March.

"These events are designed to consume alcohol with no other purpose," Bass wrote.

His decision could affect a recurring downtown fundraiser that has supported one of the city's cultural institutions.

A fundraiser followed by a fight

Saturday's event was organized to benefit the Alban Arts Center Restoration Fund, according to the city's website.

The event listing advertised two ticket options: a $25 package that included an event shirt, cup and two prize entries, and a $10 package that included a cup and one prize entry.

The cups were required for participants who wanted to carry drinks onto the street during the event.

The city advertised plans to close Main Street to accommodate dancing, games and other activities.

Just before midnight Saturday, police responded to a large fight outside Club Eldorado on Grant Avenue, according to reporting by WCHS Radio.

The Nitro Police Department confirmed that its officers arrested two people during the response. Police remained at the scene until the crowd dispersed and the disturbance was resolved.

In his letter, Bass said the incident resulted in seven arrests overall and required officers from St. Albans, Nitro, South Charleston and Charleston, along with the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department and West Virginia State Police.

He also wrote that Kanawha County medics were occupied for hours, although the letter did not specify whether anyone was injured or transported for medical treatment.

The names of those arrested and the charges against them were not immidiately available.

The response also came at a cost to the St. Albans Police Department.

Bass said the department had to call in additional personnel and pay nine officers for three hours of overtime beyond their assigned shifts.

The chief did not specify the total cost.

A pattern of disturbances

The Halloween incident was not the first time a downtown pub crawl had been followed by fights, according to Bass.

In his letter, the chief described several disturbances associated with a March 28 pub crawl held around St. Patrick's Day.

He said a fight broke out inside Shucker's restaurant, prompting employees to remove the patrons involved. The confrontation continued in a rear parking lot, he wrote.

Later that evening, another fight occurred inside Drummy's bar, where several patrons were ejected, according to the letter.

Bass said some participants subsequently traveled to Club Eldorodo, where officers responded to another fight.

The chief did not specify whether anyone was arrested in connection with the March disturbances.

The Update has not been able to independently verify the March incidents nor the full sequence of events described in Bass' letter.

Bass cited the disturbances as evidence that the pub crawls have become an unacceptable burden on law enforcement.

What happens to future events?

Bass said permits for the events require approval from both the police chief and the mayor.

He wrote that he spoke with Mayor Scott James on Sunday, the day after the Halloween event, and had decided against approving future pub crawl permits.

"Moving forward, we will not approve any permits for Pub Crawls," Bass wrote.

The letter does not specify whether James agreed with the decision or whether the city intends to adopt a formal policy prohibiting the events.

It also leaves unanswered whether organizers could hold similar fundraisers under a different format or with additional security measures.

Bass emphasized that his decision would not affect other events currently hosted by the city.

The distinction is significant for the Alban Arts Center, which was identified as the beneficiary of Saturday's fundraiser. The city's event listing said all proceeds would support the center's restoration fund.

Whether the decision will affect future fundraising plans remains unclear.

For Bass, however, the question is one of public safety and the responsibilities of his department.

"When I was appointed Chief of Police, I was entrusted with maintaining order, safety, and the well-being of the citizens, visitors, and employees of the City of Saint Albans," he wrote.

"I will not sacrifice these things for a fundraiser."