A free rock concert, organized to raise money for the victims of the recent terrorist attacks on the United States, ended in the violent beating of a 32-year-old Bakersfield man at Stramler Park on Sunday evening.
No arrests were made, according to Detective Mary DeGeare, spokeswoman for the Bakersfield Police Department.
Witnesses say Frank Olds was moshing in front of the stage when he bumped into a small child. When Olds was hit in the face by a man in the crowd, he grabbed the man’s flag and ripped it.
The crowd then rushed Olds and beat him unconscious.
A 911 call was made by a BC student named Josh Sullivan, while a member of the local band, Anaidrol, treated the man until Hall Ambulance arrived on the scene.
Olds was taken to Mercy Hospital where he was treated and released, according to Joanne Handlin, nursing supervisor at Mercy Hospital.
“Only a couple of people, mainly band members, came to the man’s aid, while the majority of the crowd proceeded to beat him up,” Sullivan said. “He was surrounded by so many people, the security guards couldn’t get through to help him.” The incident happened at the end of the seven-hour concert. Donations at the event were optional.
All donations are to be given to the American Red Cross.
“I thought of the idea on Wednesday, made a few phone calls, and it’s been crazy ever since,” Staver, 31, said. “I got a lot of support right away, from all the bands and even the security are here for free.” Red, white, blue ribbons were given at the door and the event began with the national anthem.
The crowd roared as one of the members of the band Fluid, yelled out, “Get your hands together for America and all the people who’ve died for our great nation!”
Many BC students attended the event and expressed their support in the crowd.
“I think it’s a really good cause and it’s a way to get all these people together,” said Jen Bell, 20, a child development major.
RB, a member of the band, Anaidrol, which is scheduled to play at Bullpen on Oct. 4, expressed his reaction to the terrorism in America as his band was setting up to play.
“I think we (Americans) got caught with our pants down; we got caught sleeping,” he said. “I think this event is great for everyone to pool together, to show its support when something happens.
“This isn’t just a town, city, or country pulling together,” RB said. “This is a small part of what the whole world is actually doing right now as we speak.
“Everybody is here for the same reason, and that is just to support life and humanity and do what we have to do to make sure that we as a human race are protected from individuals like this who think we can do what ever they want, whenever they want,” he said.