Pictures From The Out Of Control UMass Party That Led To Dozens Of Arrests

AP Photo/The Republican, Robert RizzutoPolice detain a participant in the pre-St. Patrick's Day "Blarney Blowout" near the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Mass. on Saturday, March 8, 2014. According to the Amherst police department, four police officers were hurt as they worked to disperse hundreds of unruly students who were throwing beer cans and bottles at police on Saturday as large crowds gathered at the off-campus apartment complex. Police in riot gear arrested 35 at the event.

The annual St. Patrick's Day-themed "Blarney Blowout" party at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst ended with the arrests of dozens of people Saturday, after a massive unruly student presence caused police officers to don riot gear, according to the Associated Press.

The AP reports that local Amherst police had to break up several large student parties during the day, and were repeatedly faced with "people throwing bottles, rocks, cans and snowballs." Police reportedly responded by shooting paintball-style guns filled with pepper spray into crowds of college-age partiers.

UMass student newspaper The Daily Collegian broke down the various arrests during the day:

APD officers arrested 55 people with at least 18 of those people held on charges of failing to disperse and inciting a riot; at least three others were held on assault and battery with a dangerous weapon charges; and an individual was also charged with breaking and entering. Other charges included disorderly conduct, alcohol violations and assault and battery on a police officer. Police also issued an additional 28 summons.

Additionally, four police officers were reportedly injured - three were hit by bottles and one was hurt while making an arrest, according to the AP.

In a statement, UMass Chancellor Kumble R. Subbaswamy condemned any student participants:

I want to make it unequivocally clear that the University of Massachusetts Amherst condemns the outrageous behavior of those students who acted out without any regard for public safety and the community in which they live. They have brought shame on our fine university and run the risk of devaluing the college degree that all of our students work so hard to achieve.

Here's some more pictures of students being arrested and facing off with police:

And here's what Blarney Blowout looked like before the police showed up: