Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Gresham Police Department is asking owners of a local community center to control their guests better -- following a riot Saturday night. Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.

The party started as a quinceanera celebration for a 15-year-old girl. But at about 10 o'clock a fight broke out among 20 men -- many of whom were relatives.

Gresham Lieutenant, Jeffrey Hansen, says police were called after two security guards lost control of the group.

Jeffrey Hansen: "They were swinging belts with belt buckles and striking the officers. They were punching, they were attacking. It just turned into a large brawl. It ended up being 38 officers from 5 different agencies."

A large cake and decorative marbles were spilled onto the floor during the fight, adding to the chaos.

Hansen says that over the last 18 months, police have been called to the community center twenty times.

Negotiations are currently underway to better control events, including the possibility of limiting alcohol consumption.