UPDATE: Denver police said on Sunday morning that 17 people were arrested in connection with the protest out of thousands of attendees.

Over two hours after the Denver "No Kings" rally officially ended, a separate group of protesters clashed with Denver police officers.

The heated encounter came after officers closed West Colfax Avenue in both directions between I-25 and N. Osage Street due to the protest activity. 

CBS crew members report police stood with riot shields, blocking protesters' access to I-25. Some protesters were seen throwing bottles toward police. There were also reports of graffiti, according to Denver police.

DPD said there were six separate marches in Denver Saturday night just before sundown.

"Since approximately noon today, DPD has managed five demonstrator marches near the State Capitol Building and in the downtown area. Those marches were peaceful," the department stated in a press release. "There was one arrest of an adult male for Obstruction of Streets, which occurred in the area of Speer Boulevard and Wewatta Street after the arrestee refused to leave the roadway."

According to DPD, the majority of protesters had left the downtown area by 6:30 p.m. and the sixth march began traveling west on W. Colfax Avenue. Officers reportedly used loudspeakers announcing that the protesters couldn't enter the highway, but they said protesters attempted to physically push through the police line anyhow

Police declared an unlawful assembly and deployed pepper balls and smoke to try and disperse the crowd. They said officers did not use tear gas. DPD said it arrested 5 people.

The protestors began dispersing just before 7:45 p.m., as recounted by DPD. Many members of the crowd headed back towards the Capitol.