BRIEFLY.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Vet's Club party ends

in fights, two arrests

Police broke up an overcrowded party at the Vet's Club Saturday night, and several fights and a "near riot" erupted just outside the establishment, Eugene police said.

Police said they arrived shortly after 11 p.m. in response to complaints of disorderly and noisy people, and found several underage drinkers in a parking lot across the street from the club at 1626 Willamette St.

Inside the club, police said they found hallways and stairs blocked by a mass of people waiting to get in. Nearly 400 people were upstairs, despite the building's maximum occupancy listing of 300, police said.

The party's sponsor, Zeta Phi Beta sorority, decided to end the party after consulting with police, the on-site club manager and the fire marshal.

Displaced patrons congregated outside the club, where several fights broke out, police said.

Willamette Street was closed for about 30 minutes as police broke up fights and discouraged patrons from assembling in the streets and parking lots surrounding the club. Quiet was restored around 1:15 a.m., police said.

One patron refused to leave after multiple warnings, police said. Jennifer Rogan, 22, of Eugene was charged with disorderly conduct and interfering with a police officer, and taken to Lane County Jail.

Mark Sunga, 19, of Eugene was arrested and jailed on charges of providing false information to a police officer, falsely representing his age, and possessing an open container of alcohol.

CORRECTION (ran 6/1/2006): Several fights and a near-riot occurred outside Eugene's Veterans' Memorial Building, 1626 Willamette St., on April 29 after a party in the building's upstairs ballroom became overcrowded. The building is owned by the Veterans' Memorial Association, which rents out the ballroom and other rooms in the building for parties and other engagements. Mac's at the Vet's Club, a bar and restaurant on the building's first floor, is a separate business that leases space from the association. A news brief on May 1 on Page D3 did not accurately describe the location of the fights.

Saturday Market patrol yields multiple citations

Eugene police issued citations to 19 adults and five juveniles, mostly on alcohol and marijuana charges, during a focused foot and bicycle patrol of the downtown Saturday Market.

The patrol was conducted in response to repeated problems with violence, drug dealing and intoxication at the adjacent Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza, police said.

Officers said they were well received by market vendors and patrons. In one instance, two lieutenants chased a man who fled as the officers were citing him for an alcohol violation. Vendors and customers pointed out where the man had gone, and the officers detained him in the 800 block of Willamette Street, police said.

Eight of the 19 adults were taken to Lane County Jail, five on charges of delivering marijuana. A set of brass knuckles was seized from one adult.

Shooting victim is said to be improving

A 20-year-old woman who was shot early Saturday morning in a dispute at a Dexter mobile home park was upgraded to fair condition Sunday at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene.

Corena Slaughter of Dexter, who was shot once in the abdomen, was listed in critical condition after being rushed to the hospital following the incident that was reported at 12:37 a.m. Saturday.

Jerry Ray Burnett, 48, of Dexter, was shot multiple times and died at the scene of the dispute in the Lakeside Mobile Home Park at 39098 Dexter Road.

Kevin Ray Krauser, 19, was taken into custody shortly after the shootings outside his mother's mobile home. He remained held without bond in the Lane County Jail Sunday night on a probation violation charge as police and prosecutors considered whether additional charges would be filed.

Lane County sheriff's office detectives were not available for comment on Sunday, but had said previously that the shootings were the result of an ongoing dispute involving several Dexter residents.