The San Diego Union-Tribune
PACIFIC BEACH, San Diego — A melee broke out on the beach yesterday afternoon as people started throwing plastic bottles and cans at police officers who were called to break up a large fight.
Sixteen people were arrested on charges of being drunk in public and fighting, said San Diego police Assistant Chief David Ramirez.
He said lifeguards called police about 5:15 p.m. reporting a fight in a group of several hundred on the beach near Reed Street and Ocean Boulevard.
Officers went into a crowd of about 500 where a large group was fighting, he said.
People in the crowd threw plastic drink bottles and cans at officers as they made arrests and drew back from the group, Ramirez said.
The 30 officers in the area were quickly backed up by an additional 40, Ramirez said.
Officers in riot gear formed a line along the boardwalk at Reed Street and a block of Mission Boulevard was closed briefly.
No officers were injured, Ramirez said.
Councilman Kevin Faulconer came to the beach and, after speaking with police officials, said he will re-examine the city’s policy governing alcohol consumption at the beach, including restricting it or possibly banning it.
“There is no doubt alcohol played a major portion,” Faulconer said.
After calling for backup, police officers set up a “skirmish line” along the boardwalk, Ramirez said. The confrontation “calmed down real quick” as the crowd began to break up, Ramirez said. A police helicopter circled above the area instructing the crowd to disperse.
Police went on to arrest six more people in the area for being drunk in public, Ramirez said.
Shortly before the call to police from lifeguards, a police all-terrain vehicle was apparently stuck in the sand in the same general area, and police determined a man around the vehicle was drunk in public, Ramirez said. He said he believes that event was separate from the ensuing report of a fight.
Copyright 2007 The San Diego Union-Tribune