They begin shortly after 10 p.m. Already, reports were emerging of people being hit by bottles or attacked by groups of assailants. A short time later, a speaker orders officers in regular uniforms to pull out of the crowd and don protective gear. Just make sure all of the Platoon 1 who are currently soft, pull out to perimeter positions with their backs protected and wait for my order to harden up. That's information for officer safety.
Reports follow of a loud explosion in the crowd and people throwing bottles at officers.
When it becomes a situation where you're better off not being inside the middle of the crowd, pull your people back to the periphery. By this time, widespread fights and vandalism have occurred. Nobody goes in. By then, the area around First Avenue and Yesler Way has become a hotbed of violence. Still, police hold back.