The 25 Most Ratchet St. Patrick's Day Incidents

Too much green beer. Too little good judgement.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Each year on March 17, people gather to celebrate Saint Patrick, a celebrity among the patron saints of Ireland. What began as a feast has devolved into a 24-hour period—or in some cases, an entire weekend—of intoxicated, moronic behavior. What would Saint Patrick say about people doubled over in pools of vomit, or fighting each other during drunken train rides?

Today is Saint Patrick's Day, which means folks across the country will celebrate by donning green, then guzzling green beer and copious amounts of Jameson. There will be fights, there will be blood, and there will be arrests. We can say this with confidence because, without fail, people go too hard on St. Paddy's Day. Sometimes the results are hilarious, other times they're tragic.

Before you observe the holiday, reflect on the 25 Most Ratchet St. Patrick's Day Incidents. Don't let it be you.

Written by Julian Kimble (@JRK316)

The University of Delaware Gets it Poppin' Early

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Get "Schmacked" at West Virginia University

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The Apocalypse Strikes Boulder, CO

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Date: March 2012
Location: Boulder, CO

You have to appreciate college kids who really know how to get it in. Last year, because St. Patrick's Day fell on a Saturday, an apartment complex near the University of Colorado at Boulder threw what attendees would call the Party of the Century—at least until that Sunday morning hangover kicked in, or until this year. A BroBible tipster explained that this apartment complex throws ridiculous parties on Halloween and St. Patrick's Day (just about every six months), and this smorgasbord of debauchery lasted for a good two hours before the police finally arrived and were greeted by rousing chants of "Fuck the police!" After that, everyone spilled into the streets and someone was reportedly playing the bag pipes right in the thick of things. One look at the pictures will bring back memories of Project X and you won't be able to get The Throne's "H.A.M." out of your head.

The most interesting facet of this story is that, prior to the festivities, every student received the following email from the Office of the Dean of Students titled "Tonight":


"This St. Patrick's Day: Root for the Buffs. Party safely. Look out for each other. Get home alive and well.


Brought to you by the Dean of Students and the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs."

Is he a realist or an enabler?

Drunk Man Gets Arrested After Mounting Fire Truck

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Beads of Green, Hearts of Fire

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DUIs, Drugs, and More in Colorado

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Always Avoid the Drunk, Shirtless Man

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Early Bird Gets the Worm

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Train of Drunkards=Belly of the Beast

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The Great Luggage Rack Race

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Chicago Cop Chokes Drunkard Out

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West Village Fight Club

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Keggs, Eggs, and the Aftermath

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NYPD Officer Gives Up Relative

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Over 30 Arrested After Out of Control St. Paddy's Day Party

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Hoboken—Enough Said

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Officer Gets Overzealous During Weekend of Arrests

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Date: March 2011
Location: Savannah, GA

It was was busy St. Patrick's Day Weekend in Savannah back in 2011, as 190 people were arrested. Of those 190 arrests, the top five most common arrests went as follows:


27 arrests for disorderly conduct


17 arrests for public urination


13 arrests for public urination


9 arrests for affray


7 arrests for public intoxication

The best arrest of all came that Saturday night, when undercover cops noticed Brandon Rice trying to break into patrol cars. Completely unaware of their identities, he asked them to act as look-outs for him. They helped him alright—right into handcuffs. Rice was charged with criminal intent to enter an automobile, among other things.

Last year, Patricia Shields of Columbia, SC sued the city of Savannah after she was arrested by Savannah-Chatham Metro Cpl. Aaron McKie in 2011 after broke out among a group of women. According to her attorney, Mark Tate, Shields was beaten with a baton and sprayed in the face with mace and slammed her to the ground in such a violent manor that she has a "permanent deformation" on her thigh. Shields sued the city for assault and battery, false arrest, and emotional distress. Furthermore, she claimed the city neglected to provide Cpl. McKie with the proper training, so he should've never been deployed to address the incident. What's St. Patty's Day without a lawsuit?

Don't Attack a Cop on St. Patrick's Day. Or Ever.

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Drunk Woman Drives Herself to Jail

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The St. Patrick's Day Gardener Museum Heist

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Cop Gets Arrested for DUI

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Five Teens Shot in Indianapolis, IN

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St. Patrick's Day Isn't Worth Your Life. Or Life in Prison.

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London Calling

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Tourist Beaten on Camera

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