The West Central Tribune has filed the following report:

FARGO, N.D. - Some fans who turned out for a party before Monday’s (October 29th) Ozzy Osbourne-Rob Zombie concert found out they’d been handed tricks instead of treats by the law when sheriff’s deputies crashed the party.

The approximately 40 people who answered letters of invitation turned up at The Venue at Playmakers for what they thought would be a festive party before the big concert at the Fargodome.

The Venue event was sponsored by PDL Productions – a bogus firm created by Paul D. Laney, the Cass County sheriff, to help catch scofflaws who ignored court summons and child support payments or failed to pay fines.

Instead of partying down, attendees were arrested on outstanding warrants. “It was more of a warrant party,” Laney said.

“Some actually thought it was pretty funny,” he added. Others were upset, with a couple who turned hostile. “I think they were upset with themselves for being had.”

It turned out security staff wearing PDL Productions T-shirts were deputy sheriffs, North Dakota probation and parole agents and members of the local drug enforcement task force.

The “I Crashed the Bash” T-shirts were emblazoned with a skull, in keeping with the season’s Halloween motif. Those who looked closely at the skull’s right eye socket could see the star of a sheriff’s badge.

“We didn’t really rub it in,” Laney said of the subtle clue.

Some of those arrested had two or three outstanding warrants, everything from traffic fines to drug fines. “You name it, they were there,” the sheriff said.

“It’s been a long day,” a deputy at the Cass County Jail said Monday evening, hours after the afternoon party turned into a crackdown. For those unable to post bail, the day undoubtedly seemed even longer.