CHICO — Cesar Chavez Day holiday crowds built slowly this afternoon in neighborhoods west of the Chico State University campus, and got the attention of police about 4:30 p.m. when there were reports of bottles being thrown.

Police arrived at a residence near the corner of West Third and Ivy streets to find a large crowd outside, and heard reports that there had been some fights.

Officer Brett Smith said there was no evidence that bottles had been thrown at anyone, but the intersection and the yard where the party was going on were littered with broken glass.

Police said at least two people, either shoeless or wearing sandals, stepped on the glass and left bloody footprints on a sidewalk for several yards.

There were reports of two people possibly needing medical aid.

Police moved the large crowd attending the party east, to West Third and Hazel streets, reportedly at the request of the party host.

As they pushed the crowd, police said one young man, later cited for being a minor in possession of alcohol, appeared to be inciting the crowd to take action against the police.

Moments later, at about 5 p.m., several police began chasing a man along Ivy Street, south of West second Street, who had allegedly pulled a folding knife on a group selling food outside 268 Ivy.

Officers tackled the man about 50 yards away and arrested him on suspicion of brandishing a weapon.

The man’s friends said the knife was on the ground, and he merely ran past it as police were chasing him. Other witnesses said he threw it as he ran.

Around 5:30 p.m., police cited three more minors for allegedly possessing alcohol.

With a strong police presence throughout the area, crowds began to disperse, or retreated inside.

Police said they would keep several officers in the area throughout the night, and later tonight planned to have a mounted patrol in the area.

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