ByIrene YadaoAssistant Tempo Editor

The security at Cox Arena concerts is being held in question bythe attorney of a 20-year-old man seriously injured at Saturdayevening’s Pennywise show.

Steven Victor said his client, whose name has not yet beenreleased, suffered a fractured back during a mini-riot that tookplace during the show.

He was treated at Mercy Hospital and released Tuesday. Fivewitnesses he has spoken to point the finger at inadequate security.

It all started when the second of four bands performing that night– Strung Out — invited those who were seated to come down into thefloor area. The two areas are separated by a 7-foot high railing.

Groups of people attempted to jump over the railing, hurtingthemselves and trampling over others. Some pushed their way down thestairwell leading to the floor.

Director of Cox Arena John Kolek said the force of the crowd brokea handrail, sending several people flying off the stairwell and intothe crowd.

“Fortunately it was at the very bottom of the steps,” Kolek said,”but there were people in the pile. Our teams responded immediately.We stopped the rush and then did what was prudent in the situation,which was to try to clear the aisle as quickly as we could get peopleto move.

“As far as people jumping on the rail, that was an ongoing problemthroughout the night. But the major portion of that was stopped. Wehad security all the way around the perimeter of the floor. Theycaught as many of those people as was possible, and they were ejectedfrom the building.”

According to Victor, his client had not been attempting to rushdown into the floor area; he was simply returning to his seat, butwas hurt in the midst of the rush.

“Whenever there is a concert,” Victor said, “you have to beprepared for things like this to happen and it just doesn’t seem likethey were. I’m still digging into it. We want to figure out who isresponsible and why it happened. No one I’ve spoken to indicatedthere was an invitation or that there was any security near the topof the stairs.

“I’ve also been told by my witnesses that flashlights or batonswere used by security to try to pull people off the pile.”

Kolek said security guards were in key locations, and that becauseno weapons of any kind are carried by security, no batons were usedin that manner.

“Some do carry small flashlights,” he said, “but they’re used tocheck tickets and to usher people to their seats. If there’s anaccusation that they were used to control the crowd, no. That’s notdone. We planned on having enough security and first-aid people therein case there was some sort of an incident. It was handled in aprofessional manner.”

According to University Police Lt. Charles Schwoerke, as many asfive people may have been sent to the hospital, and about 74 visitedthe first-aid tent for minor treatment.

“(Security) attempted to keep the people from coming down thestairs, but they were overwhelmed, and were unable to stop it,”Schwoerke said. “They kind of got pushed around themselves.

“In my memory, this was the most injuries we’ve ever had at aconcert.”

No one from ELITE security, the company contracted by Cox Arena,was available for comment.

Victor said his client will probably have to wear a brace on hisback for at least six months, and during that time, he will be unableto work.