FIRST OFF . . .

Rioting broke out in a Huntington Park night club early Sunday as hundreds of gang members brawled in the wake of a performance by a ‘60s soul singer, police said. More than 30 officers from area police forces and a police dog were involved in quelling the disorder that started about 1:30 a.m. at the Huntington Park Casino at 6611 Alameda St., where singer Brenton Wood had been performing. Wood had three Top 40 hits in 1967, the most famous of which was “Gimme Little Sign.” As Wood’s show was ending, many of the 200 people present, who were largely middle-aged members of Latino gangs, did not want to leave, police said. “They were fighting among themselves, and then they started fighting police,” said Huntington Park Police Sgt. Robert Mercado. When the 30-minute disorder was over, 11 alleged brawlers were arrested--eight men and three women--on charges ranging from resisting arrest to assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, said Sgt. Hal Butler. No officers were seriously injured. A police officer was hit in the face with a bottle, but did not require medical attention, Butler said. And one alleged brawler was treated for a police dog bite. Police said the fire department will investigate to see if the number of people attending the concert exceeded the capacity of the club.