Posted on 09/05/2007 1:04:39 PM PDT by Jubal Harshaw
SAN DIEGO - Police donned riot gear and used smoke and tear gas to break up a hostile crowd throwing bottles and cans during a huge, alcohol-fueled Labor Day beach brawl, authorities said.
Sixteen people were arrested and face charges of fighting and being drunk in public. No officers were injured.
When lifeguards went to treat a man who had been punched and kicked on Monday, people in the area pointed out six or seven men they said were responsible for the fight, authorities said.
At that point, a new brawl broke out, prompting lifeguards to call police for help. Hecklers began throwing bottles and sand at police who were writing citations for the first fight, police spokeswoman Monica Munoz said.
Lifeguards fled four towers and ran into the water to rescue boats waiting beyond the surf line, Lifeguard Service Lt. Nick Lerma said. He said he did not know what triggered the initial fight.
The crowd was estimated about 500 people, authorities said. A police helicopter hovered over the beach while officers on the ground formed a skirmish line along the boardwalk.
City Councilman Kevin Faulconer went to the scene and said alcohol likely played a part in the fighting. He said that because of the brawl he is considering a move to ban alcohol on city beaches.
Maybe they were re-staging the 1964 Brighton Mods vs Rockers riot.
Ah yes, that's the reason. They were throwing sand too, why not ban sand on the beach?
I’ll wager a shiny new dollar that the brawl involved either Tongans or Samoans. It has happened every year since I was 16. They’re bullies.
I’d like to see a list of the names. I think I can guess the nature of this crowd.
:)
My dad once got into a brawl involving about 50 people on the beach in Point Pleasent, NJ back in 1962. It ended when two of the inebriated youths (my father NOT being one of them) fell into the bonfire.
Gee Councilman, ya' think?
L
The lifeguards would have gotten there first, but can only run in slow motion.
Which ones were the bikers ?
It would help to know which beach - the article doesn’t specify.
I hit the link to Fox and it was in Pacific Beach, just north of Pacific Beach Drive (I lived in Mission Beach for 10 years)
I know when I have alcohol the first thing I think of is to throw a bottle at some cops.
The offenders were animals and acting out with a group-think mentality. Jus’ followin’ the pack.
Judging from the reports, it would seem that people likely played a part in the fighting as well. Shall we ban them?
Well, I hate to say this, but, the sand didn't get them drunk!
Nothing like liquid drugs to get the youngsters worked up
Let’s ban it
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