By Canadian Press

Police made 27 arrests in chaos at Copa America final, including Colombian soccer official’s son

Jul 15, 2024 | 2:35 PM

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami-Dade Police Department said it made 27 arrests and 55 ejections following a host of crowd control issues Sunday at the Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia, including fans breaching security gates at the entrance of Hard Rock Stadium.

The son of Ramón Jesurún, the head of soccer’s governing body in Colombia, was arrested after being accused of fighting multiple security guards amid the spectacle. Arrest records showed Monday that Ramon Jamil Jesurun was booked on three counts of battery on an official Sunday.

“We are working with the event organizers to conduct a comprehensive review of all safety and security protocols, as we continue to prepare for the World Cup in 2026,” Chief Public Safety Officer James Reyes said.

It was a chaotic scene just hours before the scheduled 8 p.m. start of the championship match between the two South American countries: Fans forced their way in and jumped over security railings and ran past police officers and stadium attendants, some appearing hysterical as they searched for the people they arrived with.

There appeared to be significant damage to the venue as a result. Video and images posted to social media showed the shattered side railings of an escalator inside the stadium, with shoes, soda cans, reading glasses and articles of clothing left behind. Security railings at a checkpoint in the southwest entrance to the stadium were bent over as thousands of people, including crying children, pushed against them.

Wanted On Warrants

Red Deer RCMP Crime Reduction Team arrests two individuals

7h ago

Early registration August 22, 2024

Registration starts this week for fall swimming lessons at Ponoka Aquaplex

11h ago

31.8 degrees Celsius

Red Deer area sets new temperature record for August 19

12h ago

The department said over 800 law enforcement officers were at the event.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Alanis Thames, The Associated Press