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2 Arrested, Several Injured After Fight At Unauthorized Rodeo

LINO LAKES, Minn. (WCCO) -- Lino Lakes police are investigating what appears to be an unauthorized rodeo that ended in a huge fight, with several injuries and a couple of arrests.

Officers say they were called to farm land in the 1300 block of Main Street around 9 p.m. Saturday. They had received a report about a fight breaking out among hundreds of people.

The caller said some were using "whips and spurs" as weapons.

When officers arrived, they immediately called for backup. They said they saw about 400 people running away, wearing cowboy hats, colorful vests, chaps and boots with shiny spurs.

There was also an area where people were roping calves and showing horses.

"There was people lined all around the arena outback," said Pam Bakken, who lives nearby.

She said Saturday's rodeo was the biggest one she's seen hosted on the farm land.

"He probably has a couple a year," she said of the organizer.

It took officers from 10 different surrounding agencies -- in 35 squad cars -- to break up the party.

Five people were hurt in the fight, police say.

One man was arrested for assault, and the man who rents the property was also arrested for facilitating an unlawful assembly.

Charges are pending against him so police aren't releasing his name.

The property owner says he rents the property to a few different people.

He says the man who was arrested for the gathering has been renting the barn area from him for seven years, and he has asked him to stop throwing these rodeos several times.

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