Post-Rave Deaths Draw Police Scrutiny

One person died, two were in critical condition and eight other people were hospitalized over the weekend in drug-related incidents that Miami police are connecting to an all-night rave at the Coconut Grove Convention Center. The reports come just a month after five teenagers died in a car accident following a Los Angeles-area rave.

About 15,000 fans who paid $35 to $45 for tickets reportedly attended the Zen Festival, which ran from 7 p.m. Saturday (9/21) to 7 a.m. Sunday at the Coconut Grove Convention Center. Performers included the Chemical Brothers, Josh Wink and dozens of other techno DJs.

The serious problems unfolded not at Zen Fest, but at the private after-parties that followed. According to regional news reports, North Miami resident Bjorn Hans Di Maio, 23, died Sunday at an after-party in an pricey hotel room near the concert site. Police reportedly found a smorgasbord of drugs in the room that included ecstasy, nitrous oxide, marijuana, LSD, heroin, Xanax, alcohol, Rohypnol, and an animal tranquilizer known as Special K.

Two others reportedly at the same party were taken to the hospital in critical condition, one of whom remained critical on Tuesday.

In other fallout that police connected to the rave, 30 people were arrested on drug possession or sales charges, and two people were charged with drunk and disorderly conduct. About 130 people were detained on various other charges, including throwing up in public and breaking into cars, the Miami Herald reported.

Police had granted a permit for the Zen Fest concert, and the event's promoter reportedly cooperated with police by allowing undercover officers into the concert. The promoter also reportedly paid the police department and an outside firm for security.

According to the Herald, security appeared to be tight, and most everything inside the pockets of many attendees was confiscated. But a message that turned up on an Internet mailing list for Chemical Brothers' fans told a different story.

''I could tell it was going to be a crazy night as I soon as I reached the 'security check,''' wrote one fan who claimed to be at the show. ''This had to be the biggest joke I have ever seen. The check consisted of one guy who patted your legs, well at least your wai(s)t and ankles, didn't even come near my pockets, and I was wearing cargo pants. The next guy had a metal detector that he held out about four feet from you(r) body. Anyways, I think that there were enough drugs this year to kill several whale pods.''

Less than a month ago near Los Angeles, five teenagers died in a fatal car crash after leaving an all-night rave in the Angeles National Forest. Forestry officials have since announced that no more organized events will be allowed in the forest until it can study how they should be patrolled.

State officials in Florida promised that further action would be taken to crack down on raves in the wake of the latest incident. Even prior to the most recent death, the rave community began urging its members to be more careful.

Zen Fest organizers posted a warning about the danger on drugs on the website that promoted the event. ''Our scene is about unity through music, not drugs,'' said the message. ''If you are abusing drugs: WAKE UP! Become aware of what you are doing to yourself and our culture. You damage not only yourself, but jeopardize the entire movement. If this problem isn't solved, there will soon be no more scene for anybody.''

Just last week, Tim Rowland of the Chemical Brothers issued a statement that warned fans not to take Ecstacy.