Fights Mar Rheem Valley Teen Night Dance

The popular Teen Night dance at the ended abruptly Friday after a series of scuffles and fights broke out, prompting security officers and police to subdue combatants with Mace in an effort to restore order.

Note: Photos accompanying this story are from an earlier uneventful dance. A link containing photos of Friday night's dance is no longer functioning.

Attendees said the dance, held to celebrate the birthday of one of the two DJs responsible for music, was interrupted at least once when groups of youths - several of them "girl groups" - began to scuffle and warnings were issued.

"They said to chill, no more fighting," said a 15-year-old who was dancing when a series of fights broke out. "They let the music start again and the fights started again, too. Several people were pulled outside by security."

A private security company supported by Moraga police is normally at the dances. Police Chief Bob Priebe said there were no arrests.

"Two groups of girls got into argument on (the) dance floor, then took it into the  lobby, where it got physical," he said. "MPD pepper sprayed to stop (the altercation) and everyone ran."

Theater director Beau Behan ended the dance after the last fight was broken up, Priebe said.

"It's too bad," said one teen. "The dances are fun and I think this may ruin it for everyone."

No weapons were believed involved in Friday's disturbance. The dance, scheduled to end at midnight, instead ended abruptly about 10:30 p.m.