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Police shut out ticket scalpers By LEANORA MINAI © St. Petersburg Times, published April 1, 1998 T. PETERSBURG -- With two fingers in the air, Pat McInnis circled Tropicana Field for nearly two hours. He needed two baseball tickets, bad. No luck. "I got a great workout and a great tan, but that's not what I came here to do," said McInnis, 23, a Gainesville resident. Opening Day was a tough day for ticket scalpers. Undercover St. Petersburg police officers arrested at least 30 people Tuesday who are charged with scalping or logo infringement. Police brought in two specialists from Major League Baseball Properties to check out phoney merchandise. "We've taken several thousands of dollars worth in unlicensed products, and from another guy we got over 100 tickets," said St. Petersburg Sgt. Gary Robbins, who worked the first Devil Rays game. Inside Tropicana Field, about 40 St. Petersburg police and Pinellas County sheriff's deputies pounded the beat in two-person teams. Before the gates opened at 2:40 p.m., St. Petersburg Lt. David Field briefed uniform officers and deputies who worked the special assignment. "We're looking to be pretty much reactive," Field told them. Authorities also arrested at least six people inside the stadium for fighting. One fan was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer after an officer was hit trying to break up a fight. At least five fans were ejected from the park. For the most part, the night passed with no major incidents or traffic problems, considering the sellout crowd of 45,369. "Everybody's been really well-behaved," said Pinellas sheriff's Lt. Dan Simovich. "Only thing everyone wishes is the Devil Rays would get a couple of runs on the board." There were a few fire alarms and at least 17 medical calls, including two for people injured on an escalator. Pinellas Yellow Cab was on hand with a fleet of 500 taxis, for regular fares and to offer free rides to fans who had too much to drink. "That's saving your life and my life by providing the inebriated person a safe ride home," said Marilyn Lamberti, who worked at a booth inside the stadium. Robbins, the St. Petersburg police sergeant, has said he wanted to set the tone of strict enforcement of career scalpers and counterfeiters, "the ones who do it for a living." The enforcement may be paying off. "It took us three hours to make the first arrest," he said. "That shows us the education is working." Business | Citrus | Commentary | Entertainment Hernando | Floridian | Obituaries | Pasco | Sports State | Tampa Bay | World & Nation © Copyright 1998 St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.