An internal affairs investigation has been launched after San Diego police clashed with several people in the Gaslamp Quarter early Sunday, deploying Tasers and pepper spray as violent fights broke out amid a large crowd, police officials said.
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During the incident, a police officer was hit with a metal trash can thrown by someone in the crowd, and another was tackled by a suspect who wrapped his arms around the officer’s neck, according to a police department statement. A woman with a cut and puncture wound on her face told officers she had been stabbed.
Emergency vehicles were unable to quickly reach the incident because nearby streets were clogged with crowds and vehicles.
Police said officers initially responded to a report of a large fight at Fifth Avenue and F Street around 2 a.m., as bars were closing, and saw both males and females fighting. A large crowd had “completely taken over the intersection and sidewalk,” so officers used pepper spray on the crowd, police said.
A man who was fighting was knocked unconscious after he was repeatedly punched and kicked in the face and head by another man, police said. Officers went to render medical aid to the victim, and several other fights broke out, police said.
“They were unable to address these fights due to a lack of resources,” the department said in its statement. “The large crowd then turned its attention toward the officers.”
Police said one man interfered as officers tried to assist the victim and refused to back away, ignoring multiple warnings. The man began fighting with officers when they tried to arrest him, officials said, and police put out a radio call of “cover now,” seeking additional resources.
Police said a second man was doused with pepper spray after he attempted to walk directly “into the perimeter” where officers were rendering medical aid and slapped an officer’s hand away when he put his hand up and directed him to walk around.
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“He immediately charged toward the officer while swinging his arms and tackled the officer,” the statement said. “Both the officer and the man fell to the ground, and the man wrapped his arms around the officer’s neck. Another officer deployed a Taser on the man, which allowed him to be taken into custody and arrested for assault on an officer.”
Videos of the interactions have circulated on social media and were shown on local TV news reports.
In response to questions, the department’s statement cautioned that “often, social media videos do not provide a comprehensive view of an incident.”
The department said its Gaslamp Enforcement teams can face large crowds, active fights and high levels of intoxication and sometimes deal with situations that quickly escalate.
According to police spokesperson Sgt. Saum Poorsaleh, complaints triggered the internal affairs investigation.
He said two people were arrested in connection with the Sunday clashes.
“There are numerous ongoing criminal investigations into this incident,” the department said.
Poorsaleh did not answer questions about what staffing levels were in place during the Sunday incident.
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