Guests at a 6-year-old's birthday party were shocked to see a mob brawling with police outside the property in Christchurch yesterday.
Three police officers were injured in the altercation with a group of about 20 people outside the house on Carnarvon St, Linwood, shortly after 6pm.
One officer was knocked unconscious and another two were treated for head injuries.
Property owner Cath Rumble said her tenants were celebrating a 6-year-old's birthday when the incident occurred on the grass verge outside the property.
She said no-one from the birthday party was involved in the "unfortunate" encounter with police, which disrupted the celebrations.
"Two people from the party went out to find out what the kerfuffle was, as they were out the back at a 6-year-old's birthday party.
"They weren't even involved in anything -- the same as anyone else on the street who walked out to see what it was about.
"Suddenly 10 police cars pulled up ... they were following the group of people that were starting to have the fight outside the house.
"The whole street is in shock -- it doesn't happen on this street. It is ridiculous."
Ms Rumble said the altercation had "nothing to do with the property and it is nothing to do with the tenants that live there".
"No one from the Mongrel Mob lives in that house, there are no patched members there, there were no weapons, there were no axes -- there was nothing."
She said her tenants were "amazing" and had ended up in an "embarrassing" situation.
The tenants had spent the day door-knocking neighbours to apologise in person following negative media coverage today.
Police said they received calls from several members of the public reporting different "scraps" going on at different addresses and locations in Linwood yesterday.
They were called to Carnarvon St after reports that a man with an axe, who had been involved in earlier disputes, was on the street, Inspector Derek Erasmus said.
Mr Erasmus said police were unable to find the axe when they attended the incident, but as they went to arrest the man they became involved in an altercation with people from a Carnarvon St property.
"Officers were talking to that male and had just arrested him when occupants of an address in Carnarvon St came out and basically attacked the police officers who were arresting the male."
He said there were about 20 people involved in the incident, but he was unable to confirm whether there had been a party or gathering at the property prior to the incident.
Mr Erasmus said three police officers received head injuries as a result of the incident and were taken to Christchurch Hospital following the attack.
One male officer was knocked out and remained unconscious for some time at the scene. Another male and a female officer suffered head injuries and cuts.
All three were treated at Christchurch Hospital and have since been discharged.
Mr Erasmus said it was also alleged an offender attempted to strangle a police dog.
"The offender wasn't successful and received some dog bites and was arrested."
As a result of the incident, six men with gang associations have been arrested.
They were charged with a variety of offences including assault with intent to injure, assault on a police dog and obstruction of police.
A 15-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy were also arrested for obstruction. They would be referred to Youth Aid, he said.
The 19-year-old man alleged to be the main offender was being held in custody and would appear in Christchurch District Court on Monday.
The other five men would all appear in Christchurch District Court over the coming week.
"We are happy that we have arrested all those involved in the disorder and the assaults on police," Mr Erasmus said.
