Rodman’s 40th birthday bash causes ruckus

Jennifer Kho

NEWPORT BEACH -- Police had to call in extra officers to deal with

former NBA player Dennis Rodman’s 40th birthday party Saturday.

“At last count there were a couple hundred people there, described as

flocking to the place like cockroaches to a bread crumb,” Sgt. Mike

McDermott said.

More than a half dozen officers were called out to Rodman’s home in

the 4800 block of Seashore Drive at different times and McDermott said

that six to eight more officers were deployed in the area just in case

they were needed.

“We have called in officers on overtime to assist if necessary here,

which means he is costing us money that we could spend someplace else,”

McDermott said.

Police are collecting complaints to submit to the district attorney’s

office with a criminal filing request, McDermott said.

McDermott said the initial complaint by Rodman’s neighbors included

allegations that Rodman was violating the noise ordinance and disturbing

the peace. One household complained that party-goers had camped out on

its patio, he said.

“Part of the problem is this party creates traffic congestion and the

noise generation from a live band is a disturbance of the peace,” he

said. “Any live, amplified music is against the city code and he’s got

two-foot high speakers. There’s also MTV and ATV helicopters circling the

place, media trucks and all that stuff.”

A number of bands played at the affair. McDermott said he was told

that former members of Led Zeppelin played on the back patio.

Party attendee Lorraine O’Donnell said she saw Live at about 3 p.m.

and expected 311 to play there later.

“Live was wonderful,” O’Donnell said. “It’s nice. Dennis is arguing

with neighbors and police, but really it’s mellow and nobody’s drinking

on the beach. It’s a mellow crowd and he’s trying to keep it mellow,

too.”

Rodman’s dramatic entrance was unappreciated by police. A helicopter

landed on the public beach illegally to bring Rodman to the party,

McDermott said.

“There’s always the potential that there could be somebody there he

doesn’t see on a public beach,” McDermott said. “The unauthorized

helicopter landing was dangerous.”

Although police already have the tail number of the helicopter, they

were still trying to track down the pilot by press time.

Officers already warned Rodman on Friday to take down a chain-link

fence he put up on the beach behind his house.

Rodman promised he would take the fence down, said McDermott, who

added Friday that Rodman would be cited if he didn’t remove the fence by

Saturday.

Rodman already has a record number of citations, most of which have

been issued for loud partying at his home.