CLEVELAND — Cleveland police indicated that people are being warned to disperse Tuesday night amid an uptick in protests.

Cleveland police spokeswoman Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia said "dispersal orders" were likely being issued downtown.

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Pockets of protest snaked through the city Tuesday afternoon in the biggest show of police force yet for the Republican National Convention.

At times chaotic scenes emerged, with several small but loud protests forcing police to temporarily block off multiple roads just blocks from the convention complex.

The most intense scene erupted at a nearby public square and free speech zone, where religious protesters and those protesting police gathered.

At least 300 police officers cordoned off protesters, using their bikes to establish barricades and crowd out attendees.

There have been five convention-related arrests as of Tuesday night, including two on Monday and three on Tuesday morning.

Several scuffles took place in front of police officers several blocks northeast of the convention complex, with a handful of officers at one point drawing red aerosol canisters.

A team of live-streaming videographers directed their attention at police, while self-proclaimed anarchists and those protesting police were also in the mix.

Police jumped on their bicycles and rushed to several new positions around the city, setting up makeshift police barricades using their bicycles while following the protesters.

Tense scene on E. 6th and Superior #RNCinCLE pic.twitter.com/O1OMhlQdru — Jesse Byrnes (@jessebyrnes) July 19, 2016

Group riffing on Westboro Baptist Church at #RNCinCLE pic.twitter.com/okV5TgRaIZ — Jesse Byrnes (@jessebyrnes) July 19, 2016

"No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA" chant in square at #RNCinCLE pic.twitter.com/SiSTV4jgoK — Jesse Byrnes (@jessebyrnes) July 19, 2016

Police said items on the prohibited items list would continue to be confiscated or people would be asked to leave.

"I don't think we'll be arresting anyone for having a tennis ball," she said.

The spokeswoman said police expected attendees to "follow the prohibited items list."

"We don't know exactly what to expect, which is why we train at such a high level," she said of continued protests.