Jonesboro - Jonesboro police arrested eight Arkansas State University students after a melee at an impromptu Barack Obama (web|news|bio) victory celebration near the campus.

Three police officers suffered minor injuries.

Police Captain Lynn Waterworth says a female officer suffered a broken nose when a man jumped on top of her and punched her without provocation.

Waterworth says the celebration saw about 200 people gather at an apartment complex about a block away from campus at 10:45 p.m. Tuesday night. She says an off-duty officer moonlighting as a security guard for the apartment complex walked over to ask those who had gathered to go home, then called for additional help.

Two on-duty officers arrived at the apartment complex, with the female officer calling to the crowd over her cruiser's public-address system. The crowd responded by throwing rocks and beer bottles at police, with one man attacking the female officer.

More than 40 law officers wound up responding.

Those arrested include 21-year-old Jeffrey Boyd, 19-year-old Jonathan Burns, 19-year-old Clifford Criswell, 23-year-old Seneca Hart, 20-year-old Leroy Joseph Trahan, 19-year-old Donte Jones, 22-year-old Kevin Jones and 19-year-old Kiano Prater.

Criswell, Hart, Prater and both Joneses all face charges of inciting a riot and remain in jail in lieu of $2,500 bond.

Boyd is being held on a battery charge. Burns faces misdemeanor charges and has been released from jail.

The Arkansas State football roster includes players with the names Kevin Jones and Kiano Prater, whose ages match the two men arrested. Coach Steve Roberts said Wednesday he didn't have enough information to comment on the matter.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)