San Diego police deploy pepper spray during Gaslamp Quarter brawl

A large-scale street brawl erupted in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter near the intersection of Fifth Avenue and F Street during the early morning hours of Sunday, August 23. The confrontation, which took place outside the restaurant Tacos El Gordo, involved multiple fights between men and women.

San Diego Police Department bicycle officers arrived to intervene in the melee, which included individuals grappling on the pavement and a man being held face-down on a vehicle hood. As officers attempted to separate the combatants, they deployed pepper spray at close range. Bystanders reported that the chemical spray affected both the participants and individuals standing nearby.

While video footage shows officers attempting to detain individuals and break up intense fistfights, it remains unclear what initiated the altercation. Authorities have not yet confirmed if any arrests or charges have been filed in connection with the incident.