
Angry music fans rode off on all-terrain vehicles, destroying property along the way, after they were turned away from an Arkansas concert despite paying for tickets.
The chaotic scene erupted Friday night at Coles Off Road Park in Garland County during an overbooked concert for country rap artist Ryan Upchurch, reported KARK-TV.
"Seemed like they sold more tickets than they had the ability to handle," said fan A.J. Lininger. "People had paid money for their tickets and they couldn't handle the capacity."
Hundreds of paid ticket-holders were refused entry to the concert, and they stormed off in their vehicles and wrecked street signs and fences along Mountain Pine Road.
"Small 4-wheelers through here, and trucks and trailers," said Gary Brown, who owns Guns and More next door to the park. "I love music more than anybody, but when it comes to this, it's too much."
Lininger said Garland County sheriff's deputies were unnecessarily confrontational as they told ticket holders to leave, but he managed to avoid arrest.
"Dude was rude as sh*t, pulled his f*cking baton on me and threatening me, got up in my motherf*cking face," Lininger said in a Facebook video posted the night of the concert. "I mean, dude let me out, I'll be real, he let me out -- he didn't take me to jail. So for that, I really ain't mad."
Upchurch also uploaded a Facebook video after the concert and blamed the park for the mix-up and poor treatment of his fans.
"You think I'm going to get on stage, when I hear people running the park, cussing my fans out and turning them away," Upchurch said. "You done disrespected the wrong movement."
The park, which allows visitors to drive vehicles off road, accused Upchurch's crew of taking money intended for setting up the concert and said state police pressured them to limit attendance.
"We do apologize for the staff and any poor managment (sic) and we will post tomorrow about any refunds or anything," the park announced on Facebook. "Please stop sending us threats. Also the park is permanently closed."
Lininger and other fans aren't sure whether they'll get their money back, but Upchurch promised to return to the area and hold another concert -- where he said he would honor the unused tickets.