Melee erupts

at football event

COLUMBIA — The Richland County sheriff’s office will conduct an internal investigation after two deputies used pepper spray when a melee broke out between two large groups of teenagers during a high school football jamboree.

One man was arrested and several juveniles were detained and released to their parents after the fight at the Spring Valley football jamboree Friday, sheriff’s Lt. Chris Cowan said. Charges against the juveniles are pending.

Eight people were treated for the effects of pepper spray, said Richland County Emergency Medical Services spokesman George Rice.

It’s unclear what schools the teenagers were from. Spring Valley, Lugoff-Elgin, Chesterfield, Camden, Barnwell and Fairfield Central high schools were in the jamboree. The fight started after a group of about 150 people who were being escorted from the stadium by deputies ran into another group from a rival school.