Officials in Miami Beach declared a state of emergency and instituted an 8 p.m. curfew after unruly, and mostly maskless crowds of spring breakers descended on the city.
When the crowds refused to disperse, officers appeared to fire pepper balls to force people off the streets. Miami Beach Police Chief Richard Clement disputed that claim, telling the Miami Herald that officers only used tear gas. He said that while the crowds were defiant, their actions didn't reach the threshold that would require officers to use pepper balls.
"I think officers felt threatened at the time," Clement said. "There has to be an element there of either the crowd fighting or coming at officers."
Authorities said that over two dozen people were arrested on Saturday (March 21) night.
"Too many are coming, really, without the intention of following the rules, and the result has been a level of chaos and disorder that is just something more than we can endure," Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber told CNN.
Gelber said that the curfew will remain in effect until Tuesday. In addition to the curfew, the roads to Miami Beach from the mainland will be shut down to all non-local traffic starting at 9 p.m.
"The bottom line is that the city has to protect its visitors, its residents, Police, and everybody in it," Gelber during a press conference.
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