“Dispatch audio indicated chaotic moments near the rides.”
The Minnesota State Fair has gotten a bit more dangerous in the last ten years or so. For those of you who’ve been there before, the area near and in the Midway is an area you should approach with caution if not avoid.
There is a significant police presence in this area and yes, some of the police are carrying what look like automatic weapons.
Heck, I’ve even seen fights develop away from this area. And yes, it’s the same ‘ol people you’d come to expect that would cause these problems. The area outside the main gate also has problems with fights, drugs, etc and every now and then the occasional shooting.
Maybe they just need to close the Midway. The primary purpose used to be for farmers to show cows, hogs, sheep, etc. while dealers and manufacturers would show the latest farm machinery and tools. At night there would be tractor pulls and country and western concerts.
The Illinois state fair had a lot of brick cow barns with fabulous brickwork from the turn of the century.