Spring Break Party Near UC Santa Barbara Goes Wild, Over 100 Arrests and 40 People Hospitalized

An annual spring break party close to the University of California Santa Barbara erupted into complete mayhem on Saturday, leading to over 100 arrests and more than 40 people being hospitalized.

The unauthorized party in Isla Vista, known as "Deltopia," was attended by over 15,000 people, reports the LA Times. However, it became chaotic after officers arrived on the scene around 9:30 p.m. in response to a report that two people had been stabbed. That's when a university cop was smashed in the face with a backpack containing large liquor bottles, states a Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office news release.

"It knocked him down, split his forehead open to the point that he needed extensive suturing," Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown told KTLA.

During an arrest, a large mob threw rocks, bricks and bottles at law enforcement officials. Others in the rowdy crowd pulled up stop signs, lit small fires and damaged vehicles, the release stated.

After several hours, law enforcement was finally able to disperse the crowd using pepper spray and rubber bullets.

Some UC Santa Barbara students said the chaos was caused by people who do not attend the university. "It's people who don't go here, and just come to party and drink," one student said.

Sheriff Brown said the situation could have been much worse if officials did not move quickly.

"There could've been, potentially, loss of life, many more injuries much more property damage," the sheriff said.

Brown told NewsChannel 3 that police plan to prosecute those involved in the riot that injured at least 44 people, including several officers.