About 1 a.m. Sunday, the intricate light show flashed brightly behind DJ Virtual Riot as Detroit police climbed the stage.

Seconds later, inside a warehouse at the Russell Industrial Center in Detroit, the lights turned on; the bass-heavy electronic music went silent and nearly 3,000 attendees were not happy.

Detroit police were shutting down the biannual party known as Meltdown 6, an increasingly popular ticketed electronic music concert that began about 6 p.m. Saturday. General admission tickets started at $45.

Meltdown 6! August 6th at the Russell Industrial Center we will be featuring Funktion One sound - 7 Stages - INSANE lasers - Car audio Sound competition and much more! Please like - share and tag a friend for your chance to win 2 free Vip tickets! Winners picked Aug 3rd. Video by MüZ Cinematics! Posted by Detroit Rave Scene on Thursday, July 14, 2016

Detroit Police Sgt. Michael Woody said neither the venue nor the event organizers had the proper permits or licenses for the party or the numerous cash bars in operation.

They "did not have any license, any permitting whatsoever," Woody told MLive Wednesday. "They had one liquor license (and) that is in question.

"It's a copy of a copy of a copy, so we can't even tell what the numbers are."

The event was expected to run until about 3 a.m., according to Jason Muns, the event's organizer and founder of Detroit Rave Scene, a sound, light and promotions company specializing in electronic music events.

Muns said he procured the necessary insurances, paid for nearly 40 security guards, supplied his own door staff and verified the Russell Industrial Center, licensed as Clay Street Entertainment LLC under the name Dennis Kefallinos, had a valid Class C liquor license for a music or entertainment establishment.

Representatives for the Russell Industrial Center, owned by Kefallinos, a Detroit landlord and real estate investor, declined to comment for this story.

Woody said there were no arrests, injuries, seizures or citations issued Sunday, but the investigation is ongoing and the promoter and venue could still be cited.

Frustrated because police were ending the party prematurely, attendees began to boo and chant, "(expletive) the police."

Muns said one of two officers pulled his gun from its holster after a water bottle was thrown on stage by someone in the crowd.

It appears the officer returned his firearm to its holster seconds later.

A video of the incident was posted on YouTube and had been viewed more than 36,000 times as of Wednesday evening.

Video of police shutting down Meltdown 6. Contains explicit language:

Muns said police originally told organizers they were shutting down the bars but would allow the music to continue. They changed their minds shortly after the next DJ began his set.

"So, yesterday, my set at Meltdown 6 got shut down in the middle of my first tune by the Detroit police," the Dubstep DJ Virtual Riot from Germany posted on his Facebook page.

Woody, who leads the Detroit Police Department's Media Relations Unit, said the officer who pulled his gun from his holster reasonably feared for his safety when the audience began exhibiting aggressive behavior.

"It didn't appear that the officer acquired any target," Woody said. "He just drew his weapon and had it ready ... "

He called the officers decision to holster the firearm within seconds, before walking off the stage, "tactically a great move." Woody said the officer didn't appear to violate any department policies.

The police were Special Operations officers from the Third Precinct familiar with the Russell Industrial Center. Woody said they became suspicious after hearing loud music at 1 a.m. and seeing a large number of vehicles parked along the outside of the warehouse, part of a sprawling complex near Interstate 75 and I-94 that hosts flea markets, boxing matches, parties and provides studio space to artists.

They noticed people collecting tickets and cash at the doors.

Woody said, while it's private property, the officers had a right to enter without a search warrant because it was a publicly posted event charging cover and selling alcohol.

"They could see the bars from the front door," Woody said.

Muns claims that's impossible. He said you had to turn left and walk about 80 feet from the entrance to see the bars.

Muns said there were multiple mobile bars "linked together as one giant bar." He believed the liquor license, which Muns verified on the state Liquor Control website, was adequate. Woody said each bar requires its own license.

Muns said there are tentative plans for Meltdown to return to the Russell Industrial Center Dec. 10. He's optimistic event planners, the venue and police can work together to avoid any repeat issues.

"Meltdown 6 was one for the books," Muns posted on Facebook following the event. "Despite (the) end, the vibe was real, the people were amazing and we packed it out."

He describes Meltdown as a "post-apocalyptic, nuclear-attack-theme-type show" well suited for the Russell Industrial Center.

"There really is no place to go other than a place like that," said Muns. "The next place is out of the city.

" ... I really don't want to move it out of the city."

The event began in 2011 and has moved to various venues as it's grown, including the Crowfoot in Pontiac, the Majestic Theater, Masonic Temple and Club Fantasy in Detroit.

Because nearly 100 ticket purchasers hadn't yet arrived by the time police shut the event down, and because it ended early, Muns said he hopes to make it up to fans by offering a discount to another electronic music event he is organizing at Detroit's Club Fantasy Sept. 10.

"I'm probably going to take a little bit of a hit on that," said Muns, adding it's worth it to preserve his reputation with supporters.