Cincinnati police arrested at least six people in a series of disturbances downtown Saturday night, as thousands of young people attending the Black Family Reunion broke off into dozens of smaller, unruly groups.

Police officers gather under a bus stop shelter at Fifth and Walnut streets after disturbances broke out in the area. (Greg Ruffing photo) | ZOOM |

        Gunshots could be heard on Main Street at about 10:45 p.m. Police confirmed several incidents of gunshots downtown.

        Police said only two people appeared to suffer minor injuries, mostly cuts and bruises.

        The disturbances began with horseplay at the Black Family Reunion at Sawyer Point, and escalated into fights between groups of youths. At 10 p.m., dozens of police moved in to break them up, and some youths threatened them with folding chairs.

        All six arrests were at Sawyer Point. Police used chemical irritant on some youths.

        “It happens when you have large groups downtown,” said police spokesman Lt. Kurt Byrd. “It's hot and things can get out of hand.”

        Police succeeded in breaking up the crowd of more than 2,000. But they quickly regrouped into crowds of several hundred, and moved to the Government Square bus station on Fifth Street.

        Traffic from the 25,000 people leaving the Reds game at Cinergy Field held up the buses, causing a large crowd to gather just east of Fountain Square. Some in the crowd turned over newspaper racks and garbage cans, and threw bottles and cans at the buses.

        By 11 p.m., much of the crowd had boarded standing-room-only buses and left downtown. Those that remained finally dispersed when thunderstorms rolled in at 11:25 p.m.

        “There truly is a God,” Lt. Byrd said as the skies opened.

        After that, there were only a few isolated incidents along Vine Street in downtown and Over-the-Rhine, police said.

        Reporter Jim Hannah contributed.

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