Five people were arrested early Sunday morning in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter following a series of street fights that prompted police bicycle officers to deploy pepper spray to control the crowd, according to the San Diego Police Department.
Gaslamp Quarter Brawl Sparks Pepper Spray Deployment
The incident began at approximately 1 a.m. near the intersection of Fifth Avenue and F Street, as bars in the downtown neighborhood closed for the night. According to police statements reported by NBC San Diego, officers initially responded to break up a single altercation before witnessing three additional fights break out simultaneously.
Officers assigned to the department’s bicycle unit used their bikes to establish physical barriers against the crowd. Police stated that officers deployed pepper spray after being repeatedly obstructed and assaulted by individuals involved in the disturbances and surrounding bystanders.
Impact on Local Businesses and Previous Incidents
The chaos unfolded directly outside Tacos El Gordo, a popular Mexican restaurant situated at the intersection. Rodolfo Ramírez, an employee at the eatery, described witnessing the violence and its direct impact on local commerce during an interview with NBC San Diego.
“If a man hits a woman, that’s not right,” Ramírez said, noting that pepper spray drifted inside the restaurant and contaminated food inventory. “Everything the pepper spray enters contaminates the food, so we took care of that. We threw away all the food and started over.”
Sunday’s disturbance marked the second time in recent months that multiple fights erupted in the immediate area following last call. A prior incident also drew scrutiny on social media regarding the bicycle patrol’s tactical response. Colin Steinbroner, a spokesperson for the San Diego Police Department, confirmed that the agency received a formal complaint regarding the latest clash and opened an internal review.
Police Investigation and Arrest Details
“This incident involves several people fighting and represents a risk to their own safety or the safety of bystanders,” Steinbroner explained to NBC San Diego. “The San Diego Police Department has received a complaint about it and will investigate it.”
The Internal Affairs Unit routinely examines the level of force applied by officers during complex crowd control situations to verify compliance with departmental regulations. Out of the chaotic scene early Sunday, law enforcement booked five individuals on preliminary charges including disturbing the peace and resisting arrest.
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