Authorities arrest about 100 people when Southern California college party turns into brawl

4/6/2014
ASSOCIATED PRESS

ISLA VISTA, Calif. — Police say about 100 people were arrested and at least 44 people were taken to the hospital during a college party in Southern California that devolved into a street brawl.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office says the violence broke out around 9:30 p.m. Saturday during the spring break party known as Deltopia.

The Ventura County Star reports (http://bit.ly/1lIO0jb) that things escalated after a University of California, Santa Barbara police officer was hit in the head with a backpack filled with bottles of alcohol.

Authorities say some members of the crowd of 15,000 then started throwing rocks, bricks and bottles at officers, lighting fires and damaging law enforcement vehicles.

Sheriff’s deputies said at least five more officers were injured, and reported using tear gas. The situation had stabilized by this morning.