WATERVILLE -- Five people were arrested early Thursday at an Elm Plaza nightclub amid chaotic fights that included assaults on police officers and the smashing of a cruiser window, according to Deputy police Chief Charles Rumsey.

"Clearly, it was a very chaotic scene," Rumsey said later in the day. "It underscores the danger that is present when these officers go into a situation where a huge number of people are, fighting, and attempt to restore the peace."

The melee started around 12:50 a.m. when police responded to a report that a large fight had broken out at Champions club, Rumsey said.

Officer Robert Boulet arrived and found a man, Alexander J. Jewell, 21, of Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, refusing to leave the club and fighting with one of the bouncers, he said. Jewell ultimately was charged with criminal trespass and assault.

"Officer Boulet took him into custody and as he placed him under arrest, the manager came running out, yelling for help and saying there was a large fight going on inside."

At that moment, Officer Brian Gardiner and Kennebec County Sheriff's Deputy Jesse Duda arrived and went upstairs into the club, Rumsey said.

"A massive fight broke out. While (Gardiner and Duda) were there, they were assaulted by a male subject who climbed up on top of one of the large speakers and actually jumped on them," Rumsey said. "He was resisting efforts to bring him into custody and during the struggle, they deployed their Tasers on him."

The man, Emmanuel Reynolds of Winslow, was arrested by Duda, Rumsey said.

"As they were trying to make their way through the crowd, Gardiner was assaulted by a female who repeatedly grabbed him, grabbed at his equipment and tried to divert his attention," he said.

Gardiner subsequently arrested the woman, Yvette Colon, 21, of Augusta, and charged her with assault, obstructing government administration and refusal to submit to arrest or detention, he said.

The chaos did not stop there, according to Rumsey.

"As Reynolds and Colon were brought to the parking lot, Officer Gardiner attempted to place Colon into the cruiser when another male subject tried to intervene. Tyrone Howell, 25, of Augusta grabbed Officer Gardiner's arm, attempting to take Ms. Colon from his cruiser and leave with her."

Gardiner then arrested Howell with help from the Champions bouncers, Rumsey said. Winslow police Officer Haley Fleming arrived to help and they put Howell into the Winslow cruiser.

"He subsequently kicked out the window of the cruiser, not only breaking the window glass out but also bending the frame of the cruiser door," Rumsey said. "Howell ultimately was charged with assault, refusing to submit, obstructing government administration and criminal mischief."

As officers were preparing to take those arrested away, another fight broke out between two females in the parking lot, he said. "After being warned to cease and desist and failing to do so, (Waterville) Sergeant William Bonney arrested Regina Goins for failure to disperse."

Officers then took those arrested to the Police Department. "In the Police Department booking, Yvette Colon again became unruly and combative and was charged with criminal mischief for damaging a wall in the booking room," Rumsey said. "She threw a shoulder into the wall and broke a chunk of plaster out of the wall."

Goins and Jewell were released on bail and Howell and Colon were taken to the Kennebec County Jail in Augusta, according to Rumsey. He said he assumed Reynolds also was taken to the jail by the Sheriff's Department, as he had been arrested by Duda.

Bonney said later Thursday that no one was injured in the scuffles.

"We were able to control it to the point where nobody got hurt, but it certainly was not a good situation," he said.

He confirmed that those arrested had been consuming alcohol. "They all had been drinking, at least to some extent," he said.

Meanwhile, Rumsey said the officers managed the situation well. "I think they did a good job, based on what resources they had available to them in handling the situation," he said.

Amy Calder -- 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com