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ST. LOUIS — Officers arrested over a dozen people Saturday night into the wee hours of Sunday morning in the downtown area during the police department’s Fourth of July operations.

Police took a youth into custody shortly before 8 p.m. at Fourth and Walnut streets, according to ºüÀêÊÓƵ police. Then, a few hours later, officers arrested another after he tried to flee on a stolen motor bike. Officers also found a gun the kid had tossed in the chase.

By midnight, police had a total of 13 people in custody. Of those, nine were children, including one 13-year-old who had a gun.

And by 4 a.m., police had arrested a total of 19 people, including 11 kids, and seized five guns. An ATV was also towed from Washington Avenue.

Citations issued Saturday night into Sunday morning include setting off and possessing fireworks, peace disturbance, defacing a firearm, fleeing, and behavior that could cause harm. Four arrests were made on firearm-related offenses.

Police spokesman Mitch McCoy said Saturday afternoon that police arrested more than 60 people downtown, including at least 45 juveniles, after the Fourth of July celebration at the Gateway Arch on Friday night.

Citations issued that night were related to fireworks, resisting arrest, assault on law enforcement, stealing and trespassing. There were eight firearm-related arrests.

Police said they took children to a “reunification center� where parents could come collect them. Police were citing parents with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

In total, 82 people were taken into custody in the police department’s holiday operations since Thursday, including 56 children.