Fights break out after Teen Dance; police use pepper spray on crowd

Beaufort Police responded to at least three separate fights after the Teen Dance on Sunday night, discharging pepper spray into a crowd of about 100 people, made up mostly of teens, according to police and one Water Festival organizer.

Some members of the crowd were treated by EMS on the scene and at least one person was transported to the hospital, but police did not know whether that person was injured in a fight or by the pepper spray.

Event organizers estimated that about 1,500 teens from ages 13-17 attended the dance. No major incidents were reported from inside the event, which ran from 7 to 10 p.m., said Water Festival marketing coordinator Brandy Gray.

Nine police officers had been assigned to the dance, according to Beaufort Police Lt. Doug Kadas. When the dance let out, three fights broke out in three separate locations between 10 and 10:30 p.m.

"It was a moving scene that started behind" a waterfront restaurant, Kadas said.

"It was people egging people on, and the crowd kept growing and growing," Gray said.

Beaufort County Sheriff's deputies assisted with the crowd control. Full details on what led to the use of pepper spray were not yet available.

"If people are turning on us, we have protect ourselves," Kadas said. "We're here to protect them and make sure they get home safe."

"It's unfortunate," Gray said. "It was a situation that (police) had to try to control, and the spray spread. It was windy and hit a few people."

As of 11:15 p.m. Sunday, large groups of teens were still congregating at Bay and Charles streets waiting for rides.