Monster Massive Rave In L.A. Sees As Many As 40 Arrests, 37 Medical Emergencies

Ravers are under the microscope in Los Angeles.

It was a spooky scene for as many as 40 people who were put in the back of police cars at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, where the annual Monster Massive rave attracted about 16,000 other law-abiding dance music fans.

The arrests were mostly for alleged ecstasy and pot possession, said Los Angeles police Sgt. Brandea Hill of the LAPD Southwest Division.

Thirty-seven people at the Saturday night party were treated by paramedics, with 16 taking the trip to area hospitals, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Erik Scott.

The DJ-driven event featured Moby, Carl Cox, Pete Tong, John Digweed and more.

So why do we care how many people were arrested and how many ravers went to the hospital?

Last summer 15-year-old Sasha Rodriguez died after taking ecstasy for a rave, Electric Daisy Carnival, at the Los Angeles Coliseum, a publicly run sister venue to the Sports Arena near USC.

Not only that, but there were 60, mostly drug-related arrests and more than 200 medical emergencies at the party. And there was some pretty gnarly gatecrashing and fence-hopping.

It made politicians take notice, and the Coliseum Commission, which runs both venues, said raves at the spots would be paused after its current contracts for such events run out.

Monster Massive, a Halloween-themed party, already had a date at the Sports Arena before the decision was made.

Next year's raves at the venues seem up the air. But the almighty dollar could be used to remind officials to change their minds: These parties rake in the cash not only for their promoters, but for the public.

Are they worth it?

-With reporting from City News Service. Got news? Email us. Follow us on Twitter, too: @dennisjromero.