Bars close, fights erupt downtown, central Springs

Police poured pepper spray into crowds early this morning in downtown Colorado Springs to break up disturbances that involved about 300 people.

There were no arrests or reports of injuries, according to police.

Eleven police officers were initially called to break up a disturbance of about 50 people on Tejon Street south of Pikes Peak Avenue, around the time of last call for the numerous bars and restuarants on that block, according to police. The initial disturbance was quelled, but additional people began pouring into the street about 1:40 a.m., and "several large disturbances broke out," according to a police report.

The crowd of about 300 forced police to close Tejon to traffic and use pepper spray, prompting people to quickly disperse.

About the same time at a bar five miles away, another disturbance broke out in which shots may have been fired. That incident, at the El Uno Lounge near Murray Boulevard and Galley Road, occurred at 1:44 a.m.

Police found no victims or assailants, but learned from several witnesses in the parking lot that a man pulled out a gun and fired up to two shots inside the bar. Police said they located one round from a gun inside.