By Mark Wozniak
Buffalo, NY – A relaxing holiday night at the movies ended with an early exit for patrons at the Regal Cinemas on Elmwood Avenue Monday night, because of several fights in the lobby and parking lot.
Theater security called Buffalo police at around 8:40pm, and several people were taken into custody.
Buffalo Police Commissioner H. McCarthy Gipson said police had a hard time keeping up with the disruption.
"It happened in several theaters. As fights broke out, they were ejecting people. But others were then opening the exits to let some back in. It became a self-feeding problem," Gipson explained.
Buffalo police had help from Kenmore and Tonawanda police, as well as officers from the NFTA.
Police say an estimated 200 people were involved in the fighting.
Movies were stopped in all 16 theaters, and patrons were sent out as the theaters were closed.