Provo • An investigation has begun into whether civil action or criminal charges should be filed against the organizers or attendees of a very large Halloween party that took place in Utah.
The Utah County Attorney’s Office said in a statement Wednesday that the investigation will take at least a few more weeks.
The Daily Herald reported that videos of the event showed what looked like thousands of people partying together with music blaring and professional lighting throughout.
Utah County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Sgt. Spencer Cannon had said in November that the organizers of the event did not have a permit.
The state reported a then-record 5,352 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Nov. 14, two weeks after Halloween day, according to state Department of Health data.
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.
After the party was shut down, Cannon said there were at least two minor car crashes, including one where a vehicle landed on top of another vehicle. No injuries were reported from the accidents.
Police said they were initially made aware of the party after they received reports of a young woman who was knocked unconscious after landing on her head while being tossed around in the crowd. The woman also had lacerations and was taken to a hospital.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some — especially older adults and people with existing health problems — it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.