The other stabbing victim, who was attacked on the 400 block of West Mifflin Street about 7:30 p.m., was stabbed in the buttocks and was so intoxicated he didn't know what happened to him, Veveer said.

The three Madison police officers who were injured are also doing well, Verveer reported.

As of 9 p.m. on Saturday, 160 people had been arrested. Most were cited and released for offenses like having glass on the street, underage drinking, and depositing human waste, according to an incident report filed by police spokesman Joel DeSpain.

The Madison police officer in charge Sunday would give no further information on arrests or citations and DeSpain and Wray were unavailable.

"I try to be an optimistic person but I have to admit that I'm somewhat pessimistic about being able to end this 42-year tradition overnight," Verveer said based on the city's experience trying to quell the event following a 1996 riot.

At that time, the city didn't have the cooperation of neighborhood residents who continued to have house parties on the day of the block party as police tried to keep people moving on the streets and sidewalks.