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Columbus Police Use Pepper Spray To Disperse Rowdy OSU Fans

Columbus Police say all the problems started as soon as the clock ticked down to zero and the Buckeyes officially won the national title.

According to Commander Chris Bowling, people were knocking over trash cans, throwing debris, setting fires and running onto the streets.

That's when Bowling said officers used pepper spray and crowd-controlling gas.

Fuad Omar said the fans were just celebrating and believes officers went too far.

"It was being peaceful at first but when the tear gas was on every block-on every corner where people can't breathe -- that's when things got serious and people are starting to revolt right now," Omar said.

The crowd did disperse and the situation seemed to calm down. Bowling said a handful of people were arrested for lighting dumpsters and couches on fire outside.

Tony Ganzer has reported from Phoenix to Cairo, and was the host of 90.3's "All Things Considered." He was previously a correspondent with the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, covering issues like Swiss banks, Parliament, and refugees. He earned an M.A. in International Relations (University of Leicester); and a B.Sc. in Journalism (University of Idaho.) He speaks German, and a bit of French.