Burning Man sees highest number of arrests since 2019, and most involved drugs

"Arrests at Burning Man surged this year, with 44 people booked on various charges, up from just 28 last year, according to new data released Wednesday by the Pershing County Sheriff's Office. The nine-day music and art event takes place every summer in a remote stretch of the Nevada's Black Rock Desert, and while it's famous for shirking traditional values like money, the county sheriff and federal agents still enforce laws and arrest people every year."

"The majority of arrests this year were related to drugs, with 34 people booked on charges involving controlled substances. There were also charges related to sexual assault, trespassing and battery. Deputies with the Pershing County Sheriff's Office arrested 57% more people this year compared to last year, when deputies arrested 28 people, according to the Reno Gazette Journal. Officers arrested 13 people in 2023, 16 people in 2022, 58 people in 2019 and 44 people in 2018, according to the newspaper. Californians made up the largest portion of people arrested at this year's festival, with 19 people arrested from the state, but arrests included people from around the world, including Canada, France and Italy. This year's event included a tragic death that is now being investigated as a homicide. Vadim Kruglov, 37, was found lying in a pool of blood on Saturday, Aug. 30, during the burning of the "Man" effigy that culminates the festival. Authorities have not released any details of their investigation."

Forty-four people were arrested at Burning Man this year, an increase from 28 the previous year, according to Pershing County law enforcement. Thirty-four arrests involved controlled substances, while other charges included sexual assault, trespassing and battery. Deputies recorded a 57% increase compared with last year and cited prior totals of 13 in 2023, 16 in 2022, 58 in 2019 and 44 in 2018. Nineteen of those arrested were from California, and arrests included attendees from Canada, France and Italy. A 37-year-old man, Vadim Kruglov, was found dead during the festival and his death is being investigated as a homicide.

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