No arrests, 46 citations given at Dodgers game

Police said they were pleased with the results of stepped-up security at Dodger Stadium on Thursday night, when the Dodgers opened their first new homestand since the severe beating of a fan highlighted safety concerns.

The LAPD said 46 misdemeanor citations were issued - mostly for alcohol-related offenses - and no arrests were made on stadium property.

One person was arrested in Elysian Park for an outstanding misdemeanor warrant, LAPD spokeswoman Mary Grady said Friday.

By comparison, about 130 citations were reported at the season-opener against the San Francisco Giants on March 31, the night Giants fan Bryan Stow was severely beaten in the parking lot by two men wearing Dodgers clothing.

A crowd of 34,288 attended Thursday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals, nearly 22,000 fewer than went to opening day.

LAPD Central Bureau Deputy Chief Jose Perez called it "a very safe event."

The Dodgers paid for more than 200 off-duty LAPD officers in uniform to roam the ballpark, parking lot and surrounding streets on foot, in black-and-white police cars, and on bicycles, motorcycles and horseback.

Also, "behavior detection officers" watched for drunken fans, portable lighting was brought in to brighten the parking lot, and fans heard a video message from broadcaster Vin Scully urging them to "have a wonderful time, but not at the expense of anybody else."

Grady said most citations were for violations

of open-container and public-drinking laws.

Fans generally said they were happy to see the increased police presence - saying it didn't detract from the game - although some thought it was unnecessary.

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said the larger law-enforcement showing at Dodger Stadium was an effort to correct a "perception problem" rather than an unusually high crime rate at the stadium north of downtown.

The sparse crowd was mostly subdued Thursday. That might have had less to do with the increased policing than with the Dodgers' dismal performance in 9-5 defeat.

Stow, a 42-year-old paramedic from Santa Cruz, remains in a coma at County-USC Medical Center. Police are fielding tips on the identities of the suspects, two Hispanic men and a Hispanic woman believed to have driven the getaway vehicle.

Deanna Russo Tara Conner Grace Park Nicole Richie America Ferrera