Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher believes miscommunication about when the Minnesota State Fair was closing its gates to the public prompted a crowd to become unruly during the fair's final night on Monday.
In an interview with WCCO Radio's Susie Jones on Wednesday morning, Fletcher said the fair decided to close the gates a little early, leaving some ticket holders on the outside looking in.
"When they closed at 8 o'clock some of the people outside weren't that happy," Fletcher said on the WCCO Radio Morning News.
Fletcher said that led to a "little storming of the gates" that required a police response.
"Private security tried to stop them and as they did, they noticed one person with a gun," added Fletcher. "Then our deputies came to help back them up."
Police used a chemical agent to disperse the crowd.
"It was an unfortunate incident but no one was hurt and everyone ended up leaving," Fletcher said. "They then went around the fair looking for ways to jump the fence."
Fletcher says the last day of the fair can often be problematic. In fact, he said there were half-a-dozen fights in the midway and one fight where someone was dropped on their head.
There were no arrests as a result of Monday night's rush at the gate.
"I think there was a lack of communication and next year there fair will have to make some adjustments," Fletcher added.
Fletcher added that it's unclear how many outside the gate had actually paid for a ticket, or how many were waiting in line for a ticket.
