PITTSBURGH — Police were needed to disperse a number of fights in Downtown Pittsburgh during Light Up Night on Saturday.
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A Pittsburgh Public Safety spokesperson says large crowds were present throughout Downtown. Pittsburgh police responded to fights that broke out, but no major incidents were reported.
During the night, multiple people were detained, 18 non-traffic citations were issued and three arrests were made, the spokesperson says.
One of those people was Keshawn Sample, 20, who is accused of punching a police officer.
Crowds of juveniles gathered mainly around Wood Street/Forbes Avenue and Market Square, the spokesperson says. Several fights broke out in those areas, with police ordering the crowds to disperse.
Police continued to disperse crowds and deal with minor altercations for hours after Light Up Night ended, the spokesperson says.
According to the criminal complaint, Sample yelled at officers and took a fighting stance. Sample allegedly punched an officer after getting in the officer’s way and bumping into them. He was arrested immediately afterward.
In that same criminal complaint, an officer describes “disorderly behavior, reaching riot levels of hundreds if not thousands of chaotic civilians” at Light Up Night.
The officer also says people were trying to “incite large fights and the running of hundreds of people causing a serious threat to public safety and innocent bystanders.”
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Between 75 and 100 police officers were to be stationed Downtown for Saturday’s events.
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