FRANKLIN—A fight involving 50 to 60 people during a party at the Cobb Street Center ended with the arrest of a Franklin man, who had to be subdued with a Taser gun when he allegedly attempted to escape from a police cruiser.

Franklin Police Deputy Chief Robert Porti said police were called at 11:40 p.m. Saturday to the hall at 1821 South St. for an unknown problem.

“When they arrived, they saw a few people coming out the doors and made their way in, where between 50 and 60 people were fighting,” Porti said. “They identified themselves with very little response. They attempted to clear the facility with the use of pepper spray.”

During the melee, police witnessed Dashawn Lassiter, 18, of Franklin attempt to hit a woman with a metal chair, Porti said. Another person stopped Lassiter, who was later charged with disorderly conduct, public intoxication, destruction of property and attempted escape.

The latter charge came from an alleged incident that occurred after Lassiter was placed in the police cruiser.

“He was left with one officer, while the other attempted to find the female (Lassiter allegedly assaulted),” Porti said. “He kicked the back glass out of the back door and tried to escape. That’s what led to the Tasering.”

The woman who was the apparent victim of the assault was not found.

“She dispersed (with the crowd),” Porti said.

Anyone other than a school or charity who has a party at a facility like Cobb Street Center needs a permit from the city.

“If there was a party, they did it without a permit,” said Erin Turner, executive assistant with the City of Franklin.

Although Lassiter was charged with public drunkenness, that’s not to say there was alcohol at the party, Porti said.

“He may have arrived there in that condition,” he said.

There were no reports of injuries, except to Lassiter, who had some cuts and a bump on his head, which he told police he received during the fight.