Seventeen people have been arrested in Cleveland, and two are accused of assaulting law enforcement officers after a demonstration got out of hand on Wednesday.

It happened around 4 p.m. in the area of East Fourth and Prospect near the entrance of the Quicken Loans Arena, where the Republican National Convention is being held.

The secured perimeter around the "Q" was locked down.

What began as a flag burning demonstation quickly erupted into panic and chaos, when the person actually lighting an American flag on fire, also caught his pants on fire.

Police and State Troopers sprung into action, trying to help.

Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams tells 21 News, "As we were trying to extinguish the fire, the protester was trying to punch my officer. He got a couple of other people lit on fire. Which we tried to put out too."

Protesters began pushing and shoving police, some refusing to disperse.

"So that turned into from our standpoint an unlawful assembly, and violence being perpetrated against an officer because they assaulted the officer who was trying to extinguish the flames," Chief Williams said.

An unnamed protester says, "What happened was a flag was burned. And then the police descended on people. Some people were arrested. I don't know how many yet. We're trying to find that out. But we took this action because that flag has flown over horrific crimes of this empire."

Seventeen people were arrested, including two people accused of punching and shoving a Cleveland Police Officer, and an Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper.

The other fifteen who were charged are accused of inciting violence.

"Everything else was fairly quiet. But there are some groups out there we're keeping tabs on, because we now know they are trying to disrupt things at this convention. But we're on it," Chief Williams said.

The two officers suffered minor injuries.

Firefighters extinguished the flames on the burning flag.

The immediate area around the Quicken Loans Arena is now restricted for the duration of the convention.

However, Prospect Avenue was designated as open to foot traffic.