Eight people arrested in Calif. after unruly crowd starts brawl following U.S. Open of Surfing, police say

(CBS/AP) HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. - Huntington Beach Police said a large and unruly crowd started a brawl that clashed with officers Sunday night after the U.S. Open of Surfing, according to CBS Los Angeles.

The week-long surfing competition drew thousands of people to the Orange County city that bills itself as "Surf City USA."  A large fight broke out between some people in a crowd after the contest ended. When officers tried to break it up, the mob surged downtown, police Lt. John Domingo told KNX-AM on Monday.

CBS Los Angeles reports police referred to the disturbance as a "major event," and officers from several other cities were called in to help restore order.

The crowd reportedly pulled down a stop sign, and a man used it to smash the front window of a bicycle shop, which was then looted. Others brawled, threw bottles, toppled portable toilets, rocked a city truck and threw a chair into a fountain, police said.

Police used nonlethal ammunition to help disperse the crowd.

One person was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, and seven were arrested for other crimes including disturbing the peace, unlawful assembly and inciting a riot, Domingo said.

"We're extremely disappointed and saddened by the disturbance," read a statement on the U.S. Open of Surfing website. "We work tirelessly with city staff, police, fire and other agencies to ensure a safe environment for all."

Investigators planned to review video and could make more arrests.