Seattle Police Subdue Mardi Gras Revelers

SEATTLE — Police in riot gear used pepper spray and rubber bullets to break up Mardi Gras festivities early Saturday.

Six officers received minor injuries and two people were arrested, police said.

Police said they ordered a crowd of up to 2,000 people to disperse after bars closed at 2 a.m. Saturday.

Many in the crowd were drinking, removing their clothes or climbing on cars and light posts, police spokeswoman Pam McCammon said.

Police said some people threw rocks and bottles at police and nearby businesses, tore down traffic lights and stop signs, and knocked over newspaper boxes.

“They [the police] asked people to disperse over and over again,” said Tina Bueche, co-owner of a nightclub. “They showed great restraint. I’m glad they did what they did.”

Some in the crowd agreed, but others said police went too far.

“The more police aggressed toward the crowd, the more the crowd started vandalizing,” reveler Douglas Benedetti told KIRO-TV. “There are other ways to go about dispersing a crowd.”

The injuries to police were minor, McCammon said.