Post-game madness overwhelms police

"We never thought it would be this unruly," said Assistant Police Chief Richard Miranda of the Tucson Police Department.

At least five people were transported to area hospitals after being injured during celebrations, Miranda said.

By 1:30 a.m. this morning, police had arrested 15 people on Fourth Avenue on criminal damage and disorderly conduct charges and were continuing to make arrests, Miranda said.

An unmarked police car was overturned outside of O'Malley's On Fourth, 247 N. Fourth Ave., less than an hour after the game's final buzzer sounded.

TPD Officer Jim Stoutmeyer said two other vehicles' windshields were broken.

"Everyone is going pretty ape shit!" said Adam Galilee-Belfer, a 1996 University of Arizona alumnus. "This is the way it's supposed to be. I'd expect nothing less. Breaking lights, tipping over cars - I'd expect no less."

UA student Andy Smith was bleeding from the right side of his forehead and his chin after being pushed into a crowd and trampled.

"I was drunk and I punched him," said Paul Sutton, a business senior and friend of Smith's. "You know what alcohol can do to you." He said he and Smith were arguing about a girl they both liked.

TPD Officer Ron Payette, who was stationed at East University Boulevard and Fourth Avenue, said, "I don't think anybody knew it was going to be like this."

Miranda said TPD called extra officers to squelch the crowd, including 50 Pima County Sheriff's Office deputies and the TPD SWAT team. The department had about 250 officers working last night, he said.

A large crowd closer to campus, at North Park Avenue and East Speedway Boulevard, tore down a traffic light, Miranda said.

Traffic was at a standstill along Speedway Boulevard from Fourth Avenue to North Campbell Avenue as thousands of hollering fans ran between honking cars and stood atop boulders in the road's median.

A woman who was hanging out of a car near Speedway and North Cherry Avenue fell out of the vehicle and was injured, though not seriously, University of Arizona Police Department Lt. Brian Seastone said.

Fans spilling into the streets from Gentle Ben's Brewing Co., 843 E. University Blvd., threw glasses and bottles. A woman climbed atop a Sun Tran bus, was pulled off by a TPD officer and fell about 5 feet to the pavement below.

Wildcat reporters Keith J. Allen and D. Shayne Christie contributed to this report.