At about 9:30 p.m., a U.C. Santa Barbara (UCSB) police officer was hit in the head with a backpack full of liquor bottles. The violence escalated when a Santa Barbara sheriff's deputy was hit in the head with a brick. Sheriff's deputies said at least five more officers were injured.
This all started after authorities responded to two stabbings in the area. At 10:30 p.m., it turned into a full-scale riot with crowds of people tearing down stop signs, throwing bottles, and setting mattresses on fire.
Authorities used tear gas, pepper spray, flash-bang grenades, and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. By the time the chaos ended, about 100 people were arrested and 44 people were taken to the hospital, according to police.
KEYT reports an estimated 15,000 people attended Deltopia on Saturday. Deltopia is an annual party held on the first weekend of the UCSB spring quarter.
Isla Vista borders the university and is known for partying. The half-mile area has roughly 23,000 residents, of which 60 percent are students.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
