After the convention center emptied, clusters of Trump supporters and anti-Trump demonstrators began to mix in the streets, many exchanging shouted epithets and some throwing water bottles at one another.
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Dozens of police officers, clad in riot gear and clutching batons, separated the two groups.
At least three people were arrested.
But while some violent altercations did break out, the two sides mostly shouted and chanted at each other.
According to a tweet by SDPD, as of 4:49 p.m., dispersal orders had been given and it was considered a misdeanor offense to stay in the area.
Anti-Trump protesters clashed with police outside a rally in San Diego for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Media reports say Trump has reached 1,238 delegates with the help of previously uncommitted delegates, who now support his candidacy.
Ticket-holders arriving for the event took pictures of the protesters with their phones and fellow Trump supporters urged them to not respond to demonstrators.
Later, Trump appreciated the police for handling the “thugs”.
Trump has weathered months of blowback from all ends of the political spectrum for his immigration policy, which calls for the building of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and deporting the almost 11 million undocumented immigrants who reside in the United States.
“Great rally in Fresno, California- great crowd!”
Protesters marched around that venue but there was none of the violence that has marked some anti-Trump protests around the country. A second woman was later similarly arrested, also for unlawful assembly.
Democrat front-runner Hillary Clinton has slammed the divisive rhetoric of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and said she is ready for the “fantasy campaign” of the billionaire businessman. Police formed a line between the protester and the gate.
About 200 protesters have gathered outside Fresno’s Selland Arena, where Donald Trump is scheduled to speak at midmorning Friday.
Trump failed to receive more than 50 percent of the vote in the 24th District in the April Republican presidential primary – his worst performance in Upstate New York.
On Friday in San Diego, protesters also staged a sit-in.
At Tuesday’s rally in Albuquerque, where protesters hurled burning T-shirts and overran barricades, Trump described New Mexico as a state beset by unemployment and rising dependence on federal food assistance, placing the blame squarely on Martinez.
“We know that there are people here that would love to see things go sideways, and we’re not going to allow that”, Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer said.
But on the stump on Friday, Trump seemed unaware of the turmoil unfolding outside, spending much of his meandering speech in San Diego railing against a lawsuit on Trump University – that had a hearing in court in San Diego on Friday – that he said was rigged against him.
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Fresno police said they did not expect trouble because violence is more likely in the dark of night.
