Spring Fest continues to grow; minimal crime incidents

May 26-MOSES LAKE - Despite large crowds and a full weekend of entertainment, law enforcement officials say crime at the 2026 Moses Lake Spring Festival remained relatively low, with only a handful of notable incidents reported.

According to the Moses Lake Police Department, officers and partner agencies logged about 1,800 combined hours over the four-day event, working alongside the Grant County Sheriff's Office, Department of Corrections and Grant County Juvenile to maintain safety.

"The majority of calls we handled were actually for lost children," the department said in a post-event statement. "In every case, the children were quickly located and safely reunited with their families."

Captain Jeff Sursely described the festival overall as calm and manageable for officers.

"It was not a bad weekend," Sursely said. "We did a lot of talking to people about their behavior and trying to guide people to make good decisions and stay at the park. Overall, it was a really fantastic, hot weekend."

Still, a few incidents required police intervention.

One of the most serious occurred Sunday night during the Hunter Hayes concert, when a dispute over seating escalated into an assault involving pepper spray. According to police, 59-year-old Amy Louise Eng of Moses Lake sprayed multiple people after becoming upset with a group standing in front of her.

"She became angry, retrieved pepper spray and sprayed," Sursely said, adding that Eng told officers she acted because she felt the group had been disrespectful when she asked them to sit down.

Four people were affected by the spray, and two were transported by emergency medical services. Eng was arrested at the scene and booked into the Grant County Jail on four counts of fourth-degree assault. Jail records show she was booked May 24 with a $4,000 bail and released the following day.

Another incident involved a reported fight behind the former pool area. When officers arrived, those involved had already left, but evidence suggested a physical altercation had taken place.

"We could see some blood on the ground, so there was an indication that there had been a fight," Sursely said.

Later, officers located a young male with what police described as a minor stab wound to his leg. The individual declined medical assistance and refused to cooperate with investigators. Information gathered suggested the incident stemmed from a personal dispute.

Additionally, officers responded to an altercation near the main stage during one of the concerts. That situation was quickly brought under control.

"It was pretty much a non-issue once the officers pulled them apart, got them separated," Sursely said. "No further issues, and no charges filed."

Beyond these incidents, police issued several warnings and trespass notices throughout the event, largely related to disorderly behavior, suspected gang-related activity, and tobacco use. Sursely noted that officers frequently used warnings as a way to prevent situations from escalating.

"We did a lot of trespassing forms," he said, adding that most situations were resolved without arrests.

While Spring Fest continues to grow in popularity, Sursely said the community's cooperation played a significant role in keeping the event safe.

"The Spring Festival once again demonstrated the spirit of Moses Lake - enjoying a good time responsibly in a safe, family-friendly environment," the department said in its statement.

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This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 11:48 PM.