Disturbance Breaks Out at Cinco de Mayo Festival

A Cinco de Mayo celebration on the Santa Monica Pier turned ugly Sunday evening when some spectators became unruly and began throwing objects at the stage shortly before the festival was scheduled to close.

Police Sgt. George Centeno said five people were arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, and four were arrested for suspicion of public intoxication.

City Councilman Kelly Olsen, who was on the stage when the disturbance broke out, was slightly injured when he was struck by an object. About 5 p.m., the crowd, estimated at 60,000, began pressing toward the stage when the music stopped. Centeno said it was not clear whether there was a malfunction or whether the music was intentionally turned off. When organizers of the event announced that it was ending half an hour early and asked people to go home, some people began throwing things at the stage.