20 Arrested in Houston Incident
An unruly crowd of more than 6,000 converged on The Summit in Dallas Sunday in a battle for Houston Rocket playoff tickets that came close to a full-scale riot and produced 20 arrests, police said.
At least 2,000 people who had waited hours in line were sent home after a timed sprinkler system triggered a sudden rush for the ticket office about 3 a.m. Sunday, the Houston Chronicle reported.
Police had to use nightsticks and dogs to control the outraged crowd that cursed, fought and threw bottles at them.
The 4,500 tickets were later sold within 90 minutes, and thousands of disappointed fans packed up their blankets, lawn chairs and coolers and quietly went home.
Of the 6,000 or more people who had settled down for the night, fewer than 1,000 got tickets, police said.
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