Riot police in Tucson allegedly use beanbag guns, tear gas on crowd after Wildcats loss

Sporting News ^ | 42 minutes and 11 seconds ago | By Kami Mattioli

[BenLurkin]

As Wisconsin fans celebrated in the streets in Madison, Arizona fans and students were greeted by dozens of riot police who allegedly shot beanbags and tear gas into crowds in Tucson.

At least one person in the crowd was brazen enough to confront riot police head-on.

[az_gila]

At least they didn’t blind any students with rubber bullets like they did in 2001 -

http://wc.arizona.edu/papers/94/140/01_1_m.html

[skinkinthegrass]

it may have been averted; if some astute ELOs had
been given a chance to operate, not some official
trying to justify the outlay of resources..*sigh!* it's a
"d@nmed if you do, d@nmed if you don't" situation.

[no-s]

So were you there, or just expressing opinions?

So that's my opinion after reviewing the video and after-action reports of student-relatives. I think that area (maingate square) is a magnet for crowds, too many bars and too difficult to exit effectively. The sudden exodus at the end of the game caused a flash crowd. At least one of the taverns had extra security herding people back inside off the street after the police started to move. A number of people were effectively blocked from leaving and expressed themselves with tweets..

BTW we got this tweet right at the start of the overtime during the game:

UAlert Avoid Main Gate Tucson Police declare unlawful assembly @ maingate sq. public advised to avoid/exit area

[ccmay]

My son got hit with a beanbag down there tonight. Did him no permanent harm but hurt like hell. Pepper spray too. He admits they deserved it and we had a little chat about the lessons life teaches you. I’m just glad we didn’t have to bail him out of jail or see him in the hospital.

Wouldn’t it be funny if your son in law was the one who shot him.

[Pollster1]

“Teens” who riot over sporting events need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Beanbags are only appropriate to take them down before they are arrested, not to merely break up a riot.

[DaveA37]

Some really sore losers there. “On Wisconsin”..........

[driftless2]

"On Wisconsin"

Ditto. If there's one thing that amuses me, its fans from losing teams blaming the refs for losing. Reading the blogs from numerous college and pro teams, it's invariable that many fans cannot believe their team lost fair and square. Undoubtedly, throughout any game there are numerous calls that could go either way. Which is why I never blame the refs when my team loses. Some fans are poor sports and just can't take losing.

[riverrunner]

Yep a lot better a little spray, a bruise then a criminal record.

[BenLurkin]

[txrefugee]

No new flat-screens for you. Your team has to win first…...

[Mopp4]

It’s interesting to see how many in that crowd are taking pictures/video.

[BenLurkin]

The gawkers outnumber the “rioters” 20 to 1.

[Rebelbase]

“It’s interesting to see how many in that crowd are taking pictures/video.”

The fruit of their obsession:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=arizona+riots&filters=today&lclk=today

[Rannug]

And a great loss it was

[nomad]

Maybe if sports team`s owners or colleges were required to post multimillion dollar bonds to cover just such events, they`d be a bit more cautious with these drunken sports fan time bombs.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Those people are wearing shorts. It’s still 20 degrees here.

[machogirl]

We did not have our usual seasons. The week or two of “freeze your arse off” didn’t happen this year. Just the: “hot as hades” and the “not so hot”. I know I will NOT see either my niece or nephew in those pics. (better not, hehe)

[Hot Tabasco]

police who allegedly shot beanbags

Can they be picked up and shot again?

[ccmay]

That's one of the best things about going to school in Arizona. Fewer clothes on prettier women than anywhere else but (maybe) USC. I remember a finals week in December when a heat wave came along. Temps were in the 80's, and all the sorority girls were doing their studying outside in tiny string bikinis to refresh their tans before going home to Michigan or Illinois for Christmas break. Made it hard to concentrate on one's studies.

[ReaganÜberAlles]

Yeah, AZ had it’s last shot, which they executed poorly. Why not a lob to the rim? would have at least drawn the foul and put them on line for the win.