Police see record number of calls for service during WM Phoenix Open

SCOTTSDALE, AZ (AZFamily) — Scottsdale police say they saw a record number of calls during the WM Phoenix Open earlier this month.

Scottsdale welcomed hundreds of thousands of fans from around the world for the golf tournament, and the Coors Light Birds Nest concert series, and with them came more arrests than in the past three years.

The department noted that fewer attendees attended the 2024 tournament because of the weather, which damaged the course.

Arizona’s Family reported that a downpour left the course muddy and forced the cancellation of the Annexus Pro-Am. Parts of Scottsdale were pummeled with hail, rain and lightning, bringing the popular tournament to a halt.

With the nicer weather this year, authorities say there was a better-concerted effort to address unruly and illegal behavior during the event. Police say most of those arrests took place on the tournament’s busier days, Thursday through Saturday.

Among the arrests was a man arrested after jumping into a nearby canal. Christian Maese, 27, was arrested on multiple charges, including resisting arrest, trespass and aggravated assault.

A 19-year-old who went viral for his racist tirade was also arrested after police say he trespassed onto the golf course while drunk. Scottsdale police arrested Brandtbert Brudenell for criminal trespass, refusing to provide his actual name and underage drinking.

At the time of his arrest, police said they weren’t aware of the social media video involving Brudenell.

Earlier in the month, the department alerted the public to enhanced enforcement before and during the tournament.

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