JEFFERSON - Law enforcement officers from nine agencies responded to the Plantation Inn in Jefferson early Sunday morning after Marion County Sheriff's deputies were outnumbered while trying to quell a bar fight.

"They put out a Code O, which is as severe as it gets and goes out when an officer is in trouble and anyone who hears it responds," said Lt. Sheila Lorance, spokeswoman for the sheriff's office.

No officers were injured in the fracas, but a Taser was used on one bar patron, she said.

Members of the Jefferson Fire Department were on standby but were never called to the bar, said Assistant Fire Chief Jon Zeilman.

Because of the melee and because it involved between 100 and 500 people, depending on who is talking, Mayor Mike Myers has asked the OLCC and the city council to get involved.

"It's very clear this got way out of hand," he said.

Lorance described the incident this way:

Deputies responded to security workers calling for help after a fight broke out about 1:45 a.m. in the beer garden area outside the bar, 237 N. Second St.

When deputies arrived, they tried to take Ty Amaral, 29, of Salem into custody, but he resisted. Deputies used a Taser on him and once the effects wore off, Amaral became combative. It was then that the crowd got restive and deputies felt threatened.

Responding to the deputies' call for help were additional Marion County deputies, the Oregon State Police, the Linn County Sheriff's Office and police officers from Salem, Keizer, Turner, Stayton, Aumsville and Silverton.

Officers were able to get the situation under control and there were three arrests.

Amaral was charged with trespass, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and rioting. He was taken to the Marion County Jail.

Benedict Butler, 33, of Jefferson and Colin Weddle, 28, of Tigard were charged with second-degree disorderly conduct and also were taken to jail.

The Jefferson mayor has asked for the police report and wants the OLCC to investigate whether any state permitting rules were broken. If so, Myers said he might ask the OLCC to consider revoking the Plantation Inn's liquor license.

The council will discuss whether or not to allow outdoor beer gardens in the future at bars, the mayor said.

A phone call to the management of the inn was not returned this morning.

Plantation Inn officials got a permit for the beer garden from the OLCC, said planner Gregg Gorthy. The permit required that there be no outside entrance to the beer garden, only an emergency exit. A permit also granted to extend regular bar hours, he said.

Before the city council authorized the beer garden, councilors asked for specifics about where the perimeter fence would be and wanted detailed information about security, Myers said.