Party-Goers Deny Police Accounts of Wild Crowds : Law enforcement: One of those arrested calls officials’ version ‘a pack of lies.’ Huntington Beach police say several at party fought officers.

Responding to allegations of excessive force, Huntington Beach police said Monday that officers who dispersed those at a party over the weekend were only protecting themselves from unruly, combative people.

At the same time Monday, several people who attended two other weekend parties in the city said police used excessive force in dispersing those who had gathered there.

“It was unbelievable,” said Long Beach attorney Scott Schutzman, who had gone to a party in the 100 block of 11th Street on Friday night, given for a man in his law firm. A few officers “had their clubs drawn . . . it was totally ridiculous, overkill. It was this poor kid’s 21st birthday party and we were all being quiet.”

Another host, Mark Metcalf, a Huntington Beach dentist, said he made a formal complaint Monday alleging that police physically abused his guests and arrested him, his sister and his roommate.

“It might be different if it was some radical little punker party or something, but it wasn’t,” Metcalf said. “The cops are supposed to be professionals, they should act accordingly.”

While in jail early Sunday morning for allegedly “maintaining a loud party,” Metcalf said, he met nine other people who had been arrested at another party in the 9800 block of Ocean Crest Drive. It was that party that prompted the first charges of excessive force, and the subsequent police investigation and response Monday.

Police said they went to the Ocean Crest Drive home about 1 a.m. Sunday in response to calls about a large party. They encountered about 20 people in front of the house drinking and yelling and about 100 more people inside, police said.

Lt. Ed J. McErlain, a Police Department spokesman, said officers told residents of the house that neighbors had complained about noise and disruptive people. The residents told the officers that they would end the party, police said.

The party, however, did not stop and people started “yelling vulgarities” at the officers, who then decided to break up the party, McErlain said. As they did, the music was turned up and the guests continued to yell at the officers to leave, he said. The officers told the residents they would be cited for “for maintaining a loud party.”

“Upon hearing this, arrestee (Peter) Leiby yelled further vulgarities at the handling officer, and, while doing so charged at the officer with a clinched fist,” McErlain said.

The officer pushed Leiby away and tried to handcuff him, but he broke away, McErlain said. “As officers attempted to take Leiby into custody, several of the roommates began fighting with the officers,” he said. “Several officers and arrestees received cuts and abrasions during the altercation.”

McErlain said that “as a matter of policy” the department is investigating the incident. Further, he said, the department has not received a formal complaint about the arrests. The nine people arrested were booked on suspicion of resisting arrest or assaulting a police officer.

The residents and guests had a different account.

They said they were having a formal, invitation-only party for about 60 people when the officers arrived and, without warning, shut down the party.

Several of the residents and guests were corralled in the living room, handcuffed and then beaten with batons, they said.

“Their version is a pack of lies,” said Philip Shirley, 28, one of the those arrested.

On Monday, several people who attended the Friday night birthday party on 11th Street complained that police broke it up without any apparent reason at 10 p.m.

Long Beach attorney John Hensley, who was at the party, said it was “really quiet . . . I’ve heard more noise at a church.”

McErlain confirmed that a party was broken up at that time on that street, but had no further details. He said no complaint had been lodged with police.