Coliseum Director Asked To Resign Over Rave Controversy

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum commissioner called Wednesday for the resignation of the venue's executive director over conflict-of-interest allegations concerning a manager who helped arrange security at a rave where a teenage girl overdosed and later died.

Rick Caruso said Pat Lynch knew assistant general manager Todd DeStefano was working for the rave's organizer when he signed off on DeStefano's security and emergency services plan.

"We have now learned that the fox was left guarding the hen house since our staff in charge of planning security at raves was also secretly working for the rave organizer," Caruso said in a statement. "Our Executive Director Pat Lynch was aware of this clear conflict of interest, approved it and hid it from the Commissioners."

The Los Angeles Times reported this week that DeStefano started working for Insomniac Inc. two months before the June 2010 rave, during which police and hospital officials said drug use was rampant and security was inadequate. About 120 people were taken to the hospital over two days.

State law generally forbids managers from participating in decisions that affect a company in which they or their immediate family members have a financial stake. Violations can result in civil or criminal penalties.

DeStefano left the commission in January to pursue events promotion full-time.

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