Statement from the University of Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Twelve people are under arrest after a block party near the University of Minnesota campus led to Minneapolis police in riot gear subduing the crowd with tear gas.

Students say the Saturday night party was part of the school's Spring Jam festivities. Police from the campus and the city of Minneapolis responded about 8 p.m. to a party that got out of hand in the Dinkytown neighborhood near campus.

Police say students caused damage to cars and started a fire in the street, and threw rocks and bottles at officers when they arrived. The crowd of students allegedly grew to several hundred, and more than 60 officers were on the scene.

Officers used pepper spray, tear gas grenades and foam rounds to subdue the crowd. Five of the 12 people arrested were university students.

Vice Provost for student affairs Jerry Rinehart says the school plans to look at what caused the crowd to lose control and that involved students could face punishment from the school.