The busiest Olympic day yet in downtown Salt Lake City turned ugly at midnight, with police and security personnel struggling to gain control over an angry, out-of-control crowd.
The relatively warm spring weather lured tens of thousands of people into midtown Saturday. By midnight, some partiers had gotten out of hand — throwing beer bottles and cans, jumping on cars, breaking windows and destroying street signs. Police responded by firing rubber-pellet guns.
Police had already been working overtime to manage the crowds but didn't report anything out of the ordinary early Saturday night. However, after midnight several dozen officers clad in riot gear were trying to disperse a rowdy crowd from downtown. Officers from Salt Lake City Police Department crowd control unit were lined up, pushing some 200 people south lined up along 200 South and Main Street.
Firecracker-like devices were tossed by police to help disperse the crowd, and a couple of bottles and a tree branch were thrown at police. At least four people were seen taken away in police cars.
Police were also using billy clubs to push back the crowd, which was chanting, "USA, USA." Barricades were set up to divide the crowd.
Scott Folsom, assistant Salt Lake police chief, said the disturbance began when officers decided to close Bud World at the Gallivan Center when it became too crowded.
"The crowd outside was unhappy with the decision to close," Folsom said.
The number of officers trying to quiet the crowds grew to 75 to 100 at just before 2 a.m. and a police helicopter flew overhead to provide surveillance. The situation had started to wind down but there were still reports of people smashing windows at the federal courthouse at 400 South and Main Street. Injuries and arrest totals were not available early Sunday.
Officers had girded for a potentially hectic weekend night.
"We've juggled our staff to get the maximum workload. Every asset we have is deployed. We've committed all the manpower we have," said Salt Lake Police Sgt. Craig Gleason earlier Saturday. His force took the lead in controling the crowds.
It was the last Saturday night of Olympic revelry. One last chance to buy and trade pins, memorabilia and official Olympic gear.
On top of all that, popular boy band 'N Sync graced the Olympic Medals Plaza stage and gold medalist Apolo Anton Ohno skated inside the Delta Center.
With all that star power and a last shot to shout "U-S-A" in the streets, it's no surprise Utahns flocked downtown in droves.
It might have been the single biggest day in downtown's history.
"We just thought we needed to catch some of the mood and spirit," said Manny Floor, who visited Salt Lake Olympic Square for the first time Saturday. "We've been watching on television, so we thought we better come down and see what's going on."
What was going on was something Salt Lake's sleepy streets don't often see. Thousands packed the city and trickled into the square.
Every TRAX light rail station parking lot was full. Even buses at park-and-ride lots were being used to make entry into downtown, Utah Transit Authority spokesman Kris McBride said.
Last Saturday, 126,000 people took TRAX into downtown and another 39,000 took park-and-ride shuttles.
"We could do more," McBride said, while examining ridership figures for early Saturday evening.
And those gathered downtown didn't see lines or traffic snarls that were out of the Olympic norm. Lines to enter Salt Lake Olympic Square stretched for only 20 minutes.
"I'm just mad I can never do this again. It's over," said Michelle Luke.
Those waiting to enter the square were as excited about the boy band as they were about the Olympics.
Michelle Fowler, a 15-year-old from West Valley City, broke down and cried when a scalper had pity on her and sold her a ticket to the medals plaza for $20.
"I just wanted them so bad," she said with tears streaming off her chin. "We love 'N Sync."
Kelly Murphy, 20, Sandy, is an 'N Sync fan but also came down to see what all the fuss is about.
"This will never happen again. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," she said. "Besides, a whole bunch of our taxpayer money paid for this, so we want to see fruits of our labor."
The five-member boy band took the stage at about 8:30 p.m. and played to the largest crowd at the Medals Plaza so far. The bleachers remained full long after the medals ceremonies, when many of the 20,000 spectators typically leave.
Amy Madsen, Layton, was one ticket holder who came to the plaza five hours early to make sure she got a front-row spot. The fourth-grade elementary school teacher admits her students are 'N Sync's typical fans.
"They're all so jealous of me right now," said the 27-year-old Madsen, who paid $75 for her ticket on the Internet auction site eBay.
Olympic gold medalists Sarah Hughes, figure skating, and Tristan Gale, women's skeleton, were among the sell-out crowd.
Contributing: Angie Welling.
E-MAIL: bsnyder@desnews.com; preavy@desnews.com