Police fire pepper balls, arrest 9 at Peoria fest

PEORIA -- Authorities in Peoria say police fired pepper balls into an angry mob of about 100 people who were fighting during the last night of the city's Heart of Illinois Fair.

Police say nine people were arrested Saturday night. At least one 16-year-old boy was injured in the fighting and taken to a hospital.

Police used a Taser to subdue one teenage girl and two girls were attacked by between five and 10 people near their car. Off-duty officers broke up mobs in the fair parking lot.

Authorities say the fighting broke out when juveniles who were attending the fair without parental supervision were forced to leave.

Peoria officials say they increased security at this year's fair after large fights at other area festivals.