GRESHAM, Ore. -- A drunken crowd turned violent on police Saturday night during a teenage girl's birthday party that turned into riot at a community center in Gresham, police said.

Chief Carla Piluso said it started as a fight involving about 20 people attending the 15-year-old girl's quicianera party at the GSI Community Center on NE Cleveland Street around 10:30 p.m.

Two private security officers told police they could not control the crowd of around 100 people when they called in police. Gresham officers arrived and said the place smelled of alcohol and several people there were drunk.

Three Gresham officers went in to break up the fight and said that’s when the crowd started attacking them, according to Piluso.

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Dozens of backup officers from Portland, Troutdale, Fairview and Multnomah County were called in to help control the crowd. Then, police said a large cake and decorative marbles spilled onto the floor, increasing the danger.

One security guard told investigators he lost his partner during the riot. “It was like hell, I have never seen anything like that,” he said.

Officers reported being hit on the back and head by men swinging belt buckles.

Injuries to officers and innocent bystanders included scrapes, cuts and bruises, but no one was seriously hurt.

There were six arrests, and police continued to investigate.

In the past year-and-a-half, Gresham police have been called to the center 20 times for assaults, thefts, loud music, vandalism, and neighbor complaints of drunk people and trash on the street.

In six of the calls, police were assaulted.