TRIALS & ARRESTS: NEW HAVEN

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ARRESTED: DECEMBER 9th, 1967

Jim Morrison's New Haven Mugshot - Taken During The Early Hours of December 10th, 1967

CHARGES:

Lewd And Obscene Performance (Mis.)
Breach Of Peace (Mis.)
Resisting Arrest (Mis.)

During The Doors performance in New Haven on December 9th 1967, Jim Morrison is arrested on-stage and charged with Lewd & Obscene Performance, Breach Of Peace, and Resisting Arrest. Road manager Bill Siddons jumps an arresting officer backstage during the commotion but is quickly subdued and no charges are laid. A group of reporters and associates of LIFE Magazine are also taken into custody during the aftermath of the show and numerous charges laid on the entourage. Young concert-goers later arrive at police headquarters to protest the arrest of Jim Morrison, only to be arrested in turn.

It is later reported that Jim Morrison is maced prior to the performance during an altercation backstage with a local police officer who is assigned security detail at the show, unaware that the subject is one of the evening's performers. Jim Morrison is taken to a local hospital for treatment, and a cancellation of the show is in order following the incident. In fear of a riot by audience members, authorities allow the show to go on upon Jim Morrison's return to the venue. The earlier events of the day result in a rant and mockery of authorities by Jim Morrison during the performance, and it is announced by Lt. Kelly of the New Haven Police Department that the show is over. Refusing to comply with the officer's demands, he is arrested. During the arrest, photographers and an audience member with an 8mm camera capture this moment in its entirety.

In the early hours of December 10th, Jim Morrison is released on a $1,500 bond posted by The Doors lawyer Max Fink, and later reports on his arrest state that he is to be fined $25.00 for Breach Of Peace, but Nolle Prosequi for Resisting Arrest and Lewd And Obscene Performance charges (no prosecution). He is later scheduled to appear in court on January 16th, 1968 but chooses not to attend, forfeiting his bond. He does not return to Connecticut to face charges. LIFE Magazine entourage Michael Zwerin, Yvonne Chabrier, and Tim Page are to appear in court on an unknown date in early 1968. Michael Zwerin and Yvonne Chabrier attend and are aquitted of all charges, however Tim Page fails to appear and remains Wanted in New Haven until his passing in 2022.

For further details and first-hand accounts of this performance and arrest, visit our New Haven concert info page HERE.

COMPLAINANT:

Thomas Janette

ARRESTING OFFICERS:

Lt. James Kelly
Kevin Leary
Robert Meyerholz
Wayne Thomas

> See our New Haven concert info page for magazine and newspaper articles concerning the arrest, or click on the thumbnails above to see files from the police report!

Jim Morrison and Lt. Kelly Onstage in New Haven - Photograph By Tim Page

Jim Morrison Fails To Appear In Court - Hartford Courant, January 17th, 1968