Teens Clash With Police at Concert
As many as 300 teen-age punk rockers clashed with police, throwing stones and bottles at officers from atop a Long Beach nightclub recently closed down because of a fire, authorities said Saturday.
The near-riot broke out after a punk rock concert that had been scheduled at the burned out Fender’s Ballroom Friday night was moved to the adjacent Lafayette Hotel, Lt. Carroll Shelly said. Hundreds of fans were able to get into the show, but Fire Department officials barred scores more from entering the hotel because of overcrowding, Shelly said.
“Some neighbors called us just before 11 p.m. to complain that these kids were climbing the fences and getting on the roof,” Lt. Dan Stowe said. “Since the graveyard (shift) was just headed out, they all went down.”
About 60 officers surrounded the club at 140 Linden Ave. and ordered the crowd to disperse. They were pelted by rocks, bottles and other debris, and one officer suffered a minor hand injury during the altercation, Shelly said.
Seven teen-agers and eight adults were arrested on misdemeanors ranging from failing to disperse to disturbing the peace and resisting arrest.
The club, a popular venue for punk bands, was gutted in a fire last week.
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