23 People Arrested During 'Rafting Gone Wild' Event, Dozens More Could Have Been Cuffed

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. (CBS13) -- Arrests and citations came as low points to a giant party that drew thousands of people to the American River on Sunday.

Rescue crews and law enforcement agencies stepped up patrols along the river in anticipation of crowds that topped 12,000, many of whom were college students drawn by a successful social networking campaign on Facebook.

The second annual event drew brisk business for American River Raft Rental, who said all 200 rafts were reserved days before the event.

The Sacramento Metro Fire Department has responded to 110 water rescues this year alone, and officers kept a sharp eye out for alcohol violations, saying the high number of people on the cold, fast-moving waters posed an unusual danger.

"Not all of them are in properly prepared rafts," said Rancho Cordova Police Sgt. Greg Johnson. "They're pool toys. The river is popping those things."

In all, 23 arrests were made, 58 parking citations were issued, five cars were towed and one sheriff's department patrol car was damaged when one person in handcuffs ran towards a patrol car, jumped up and landed with his shoulder on the windshield, breaking it.

Sheriff's Department deputy Jason Ramos said more arrests were made, but those people were turned away by medical staff while being processed because they were shot with a stun gun or were highly intoxicated. Ramos says with more staff at least 50 arrests could have been made.