Festival ends after fights, thefts

OMAHA, Neb. -- A community carnival was shut down early because of fights and thefts from vendors.

Fights broke out Saturday afternoon at Florence Days, leading to chaos at the park where the event was held. Event co-chairman Dick Brown said about 20 police officers were called to the scene to help two officers who were hired for security.

Brown said he saw an officer pick up a knife off the ground. Another officer had blood on his shirt after breaking up fights, Brown said.

A number of vendors complained about having items stolen, Brown said.

Brown said the carnival debacle was a major blow to Florence, a neighborhood in far northeast Omaha.

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Information from: Omaha World-Herald, http://www.omaha.com