SOUTH ORANGE -- Police plan to boost patrols after officers from several departments were needed to disperse at least 300 young people who gathered in downtown South Orange late Saturday, sparking fights and blocking traffic.

South Orange Police Chief Kyle Kroll said Tuesday the crowd contained a mix of village teens and others from nearby communities, including Newark, East Orange and Irvington residents, who apparently arrived by public transportation.

The unruly crowd formed around 8 p.m. and kept officers busy until around midnight, according to police. Kroll said he requested assistance from the Essex County Sheriff's Office, Maplewood and Orange police as altercations broke out among the throngs of teens and young adults.

"We just didn't have enough officers to handle a crowd that large," the chief said. "The agreement we have with surrounding [police departments] worked out well."

Officers closed the southbound side of Sloan Street, from South Orange Avenue, because of the crowd in the road.

"As officers continued to monitor the situation pockets of disturbances involving disorderly conduct and physical altercations amongst the crowd began to surface," Kroll said.

The crowd was largely cleared by early Sunday, police said. There were no serious injuries and no weapons involved in the attacks. Kroll said false reports of stabbings and shootings spread on social media.

Detectives have made progress to identify others involved in any assaults, the chief said. It was unclear what brought the massive gathering to South Orange, but police suspect social media or group text messaging played a role.

Paris Armwood, 20, of Newark, and Qaadir Mayewillis, 20, of East Orange, were charged with disorderly conduct as part of the crowd, according to police.

A 15-year-old South Orange boy suffered face and mouth injuries after he was assaulted in the chaos, authorities said. A Maplewood girl, 15, also reported she was hit and kicked by two males during the incident.

Kroll said more officers would be deployed in the downtown. He urged anyone with information about the incident or other gatherings, including parents, to call police at 973-763-3000.

Neighbors - I've received a few inquiries regarding what is occurring downtown. I've been in contact with our Police... Posted by Sheena Collum on Saturday, April 29, 2017

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc and on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.