Isla Vista, California â€" A popular spring break festivity that takes place annually near the University of California, Santa Barbara, campus took a violent turn Saturday, forcing officers to release tear gas into the massive crowd of people celebrating.
More than 100 people were placed under arrest throughout the course of the day and evening, Santa Barbara police reported in a department statement per CBS Los Angeles.
Deltopia celebration in Santa Barbara erupts in violence
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The total number of arrests during the actual disturbance was approximately 18 people said police.
The celebration known as Deltopia drew scores of people totaling upwards of 15,000 participants and transpired into violence around 9:30 in the evening according to a news release from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.
The police had their work cut out for them as it took several hours for them to disperse the crowd of revelers, which mainly consisted of high school and college students.
As the situation quickly escalated, reports of vandalism were rampant as the unruly crowd defaced street signs, set small fires and damaged property including law enforcement vehicles, police said.
Authorities from various law enforcement agencies were dispatched to control the disorderly crowd. In total, Six law police officers were injured in the violent ruckus that consumed the street party. One UC Santa Barbara officer suffered a head injury when he was struck with a backpack containing large bottles of alcohol. In addition, a sheriff’s deputy was injured when he was hit in the face with a brick. A total of 44 people were hospitalized for their injuries, police said.
During the disturbing incident, “chemical agents and less lethal foam projectiles were deployed to disperse the crowds in an hours-long effort to restore order,†the statement said.
It remains unclear as to what provoked the disturbance.
Over 100 Out-of-Control Spring-Breakers Arrested in Santa Barbara
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