Jacksonville police disperse 600-700 juveniles at planned downtown takeover; what we know
Officers dispersed a crowd of about 600 to 700 juveniles on the city's Southbank near Friendship Fountain, according to the Sheriff's Office.
'Some individuals were engaged in problematic behavior, including drug use, fighting and pepper-spraying each other,' the Sheriff's Office said.'JSO was aware of several planned 'takeover' events circulating on social media and monitored the situations closely, noting the organizers used multiple locations in an attempt to be deceptive.'
Before it even started, the Sheriff's Office said officers issued warnings to the events' organizer and parents advising against such a gathering without obtaining a city permit.
That didn't stop them as a crowd emerged and quickly grew larger and more unruly, the Sheriff's Office said. With the St. Johns River Park, also referred to as Friendship Fountain, closing at 10 p.m., officers began to disperse the gathering and arrested a juvenile reaching for his backpack that had a gun inside.
They also blocked nearby roads, including access to the Main Street bridge, to prevent the crowd from relocating.
'These takeover-style gatherings are not only illegal, but they can also be extremely dangerous,' the Sheriff's Office said. 'JSO will continue to monitor similar situations, enforce local curfews and uphold park regulations to ensure public safety.'
What is a street takeover?
A street takeover is an unsanctioned event where a group of people gather, often using motor vehicles, to engage in reckless driving and other dangerous activities like blocking intersections for spectators.
These events are often promoted on social media and frequently involve stunts, races and hot-rodding. They are considered unlawful and pose significant risks to public safety, including endangering drivers, passengers and spectators, as well as causing property damage, noise complaints, and hindering emergency services.
They are illegal and in many jurisdictions are classified as a public nuisance — an activity that disrupts safety, order or comfort in a community.
Law enforcement concerns about trend of street takeovers
Following the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office posting of a video and response to the matter, the Jacksonville Beach Police Department did the same.
'The topic of teen takeover has been addressed by me numerous times in the past months. A few weeks ago, it was the Orange Park Mall, this time is downtown Jacksonville, and is occurring all throughout the country,' Police Chief Gene Paul Smith said. 'In Florida, we are fortunate because we do not let it escalate before we take action. We have been experiencing this for years, and now they have a name for it.'
In addition, the Jacksonville Beach Police Department issued another warning on July 17 on its Facebook.
'Unauthorized and Unpermitted Events are AGAINST THE LAW,' the post read. 'Unauthorized events include any event or gatherings that are publicly promoted and have not successfully completed the Special Events application process. This includes promoting on Instagram, SnapChat, Facebook, etc.'
Promoters will be subject to both criminal and civil liabilities, and attendees breaking the law will be arrested, the department advised.
'Zero Tolerance. No warnings. No do-overs. No second chances. Just some handcuffs and a trip to jail,' the concluded.
This also followed a more serious planned gathering of upwards of 400 teens at the Jacksonville Beach Pier on St. Patrick's Day last year that led to three shootings and one killed during the chaos.
What happened at the Orange Park Mall?
In Clay County, the chief was referring to the Sheriff's Office there warning ahead of time on Facebook that it would be out in force for an orchestrated gathering planned at the mall on July 5.
The young people still caused concern and disturbances that prompted a raid by deputies, sending hundreds of participants scurrying. Social media posts and videos went viral overnight.
Sheriff Michelle Cook later said one juvenile civil citation was issued, a number of kids were detained and parents were called for pickup" during the incident.
Does Jacksonville have a curfew?
Yes, the Sheriff's Office advised parents and legal guardians to be aware of Jacksonville's curfew ordinance: 'Under Municipal Code Section 603.201 (Children's Curfew), you are legally responsible for knowing the whereabouts and activities of your minor children. In general, children under the age of 18 may not be out in public after 11 p.m. on weeknights or after 12 a.m. on weekends unless accompanied by an adult or participating in a permitted activity such as work.'
In addition, Florida has a driver's curfew that governs juveniles operating motor vehicles. For more information visit the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website.
What are people saying about street takeovers?
Plenty.
As of 4 p.m. July 27, about 900 comments flooded the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Facebook post. Here's a sampling:
"Where are their parents? Nothing good ever happens after midnight!"
"I grew up with every TV channel...there were only 4...saying, 'It's ten o'clock. Do you know where your children are?'"
"Drove through San Marco last night and randomly saw this group, looked like nothing but trouble. Thanks JSO for breaking it up."
"Maybe you should change time of curfew till kids get under control. When will you start holding parents accountable?"
"Thugs are running the streets."
"I seen this lastnight and it was disappointing. The kids were not responding to the demands to disburse. They were in a large crowd moving together in the opposite direction they were being directed, running, jumping over stuff, cursing it was horrible and heartbreaking to witness. I'd just advise parents never say what our children will not do!!"
"And that's exactly why we'll never have a nice and safe downtown. No one wants to go down there and risk being caught up in that nonsense."
"There is no reason a band of 600-700 juveniles should be out roaming the streets. This is a parenting fail that became a law enforcement problem to handle. I'm glad all involved are safe."
"These kids need to use their energy to organize community clean up beautification events, volunteering for habitat for humanity or giving out bottles of water to the homeless on hot days."
"Out of control juveniles, no parental guidance. Courts need to start holding juveniles and parents accountable for their actions and consequences given out. They won't take it seriously if they don't actually get some kind of consequence."
"There's nothing for these kids to do here. ... Summer is almost over and they want to get out and have fun. When I was younger we had teen clubs, community centers etc."
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville police disperse mass of teens at planned street takeover
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Soulja Boy Arrested on Weapons Charge Following L.A. Traffic Stop, Hours After Celebrating His 35th Birthday at Club
The rapper was taken into custody by the Los Angeles Police Department early on Sunday, Aug. 3NEED TO KNOW Soulja Boy was arrested in Los Angeles in the early hours of Sunday, Aug. 3 The musician, 35, was taken into custody during a traffic stop on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm, per multiple outlets On Saturday night, Soulja celebrated his 35th birthday at an L.A. club, as seen in footage he shared on InstagramSoulja Boy was arrested in Los Angeles following a traffic stop. The "Pretty Boy Swag" musician, whose real name is DeAndre Cortez Way, was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) at 2:50 a.m. local time on Sunday, Aug. 3, per online inmate information. He was booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to initial reports from TMZ, Variety and NBC Los Angeles. Per Variety, the 35-year-old rapper was a passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over during a Sunday morning traffic stop at Melrose and Genesee. Officers then discovered a firearm in the vehicle, both Variety and TMZ reported, citing the LAPD. Online records indicate that Soulja was later booked at 6:18 a.m. on a felony charge. It is not immediately clear why the traffic stop was conducted. The LAPD and a recent legal representative for Soulja did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for further information and comment on Sunday. On Saturday night, Soulja celebrated his birthday at a nightclub in L.A., as seen in footage he shared on his Instagram Stories. Earlier in the day, he premiered new music on a Twitch stream, several months after he dropped his most recent album, The Influence, in February. Soulja's arrest comes nearly four months after he was ordered to pay a former assistant nearly $4 million when a California jury found him liable in connection with a 2021 lawsuit, in which the assistant alleged he sexually assaulted her and held her captive. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Jane Doe, as the accuser was identified, was awarded the compensatory damages on April 10 after she alleged that Soulja violently attacked her. At the time, the "Kiss Me Thru the Phone" rapper told Rolling Stone that he "never done any of the things they're accusing me of." An attorney for the musician told PEOPLE that "the evidence does not support the verdict." "It is unfortunate that aspersions and misperceptions of a culture were allowed to influence the trial," the statement from Soulja's legal representation read. "Mr. Way fully intends to pursue his post-trial remedies and to fight for a just result in this case." In a separate statement, the woman's attorney, Ron Zambrano, said his client was "vindicated" and that they were "looking forward to moving on to the punitive damages phase of the case.' A second phase of the trial will now determine punitive damages, as was reported at the time. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
2 Deli Workers Allegedly Stabbed by Customer Angry Over Sandwich They Made Him 4 Years Ago
The suspect claimed he had an allergy to the food he was served that made him sickNEED TO KNOW Two deli workers were allegedly stabbed over a sandwich they made for a customer A man allegedly stabbed two employees at Baladna Bakery in Paterson, N.J., on July 31 because he claimed they gave him the wrong order four years ago The suspect claimed he had an allergy to the sandwich he was servedTwo deli workers were allegedly stabbed over a wrong order — from years ago. A man allegedly stabbed two employees at Baladna Bakery in Paterson, N.J., on July 31 because he claimed they gave him the wrong order four years ago, NBC New York reported. The encounter occurred at around 8 a.m. local time, authorities told PIX 11. The victims, brothers Abed and Mohammad Assad, have owned the bakery for more than a decade, according to NBC New York. The suspect allegedly confronted a female employee before attacking Assad and Mohammad with a box cutter, the outlet said. PEOPLE reached out to the Paterson Police Department (PPD) for further information on Sunday, Aug. 3, but did not receive an immediate response. A friend of the victims, Moneer Simrin, told NBC New York that workers offered the suspect money and a hot dog as compensation for the wrong order, but they were refused. "He said, 'She forgot to give me the hot dog.' Okay, take the hot dog and $3 and just leave. And he's like, 'No, because I got a sandwich last time and they gave me some eggplant and I don't like eggplant.' He's just looking for a problem," the friend told the outlet, recalling the incident. "They tried to tell him, 'Just leave, please.' And he got the knife," Simrin added. Mohammad was stabbed in the chest, and Assad was stabbed in the hand and arm, according to NBC New York. The two were transported to St. Joseph's Medical Center, where Assad was treated for cuts and Mohammad was hospitalized for non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect allegedly visited the bakery a few days prior to the July 31 incident and asked for the owners, NBC New York reported. Assad told the outlet that he recognized the customer. The incident four years ago involved the alleged attacker receiving an eggplant sandwich when he ordered an egg sandwich, Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh told PIX 11. The suspect claimed he had an allergy to eggplant that made him sick, per CBS New York. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Sayegh said local residents are "concerned" over the incident, according to CBS New York. 'This type of thing does not happen in that area, so I tried to assuage some of the fears, allay their concerns and reassure them that the police department is completely focused on bringing whomever is responsible for this tragic, violent incident to justice," the mayor said. NBC New York reported that surveillance video from a nearby company captured the suspect fleeing the bakery on foot. Police are still searching for the suspect, per PIX 11 and CBS New York. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Former US soldier suspected of killing 4 in Montana remains at large
Former US soldier suspected of killing 4 in Montana remains at large The former U.S. soldier suspected of killing four people at a Montana bar was still at large early Sunday and may be armed after escaping in a stolen vehicle containing clothes and camping gear, officials said. Authorities believe 45-year-old Michael Paul Brown killed four people on Friday morning at The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) southeast of Missoula in a valley hemmed in by mountains. Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said at a news conference Sunday that Brown committed the shooting with a rifle that law enforcement believes was his personal weapon. The victims ranged in age from 59 to 74 and were a female bartender and three male patrons. Knudsen warned residents in the town of just over 9,000 people that Brown, who lived next door to the bar where he was a regular, could come back to the area. 'This is an unstable individual who walked in and murdered four people in cold blood for no reason whatsoever. So there absolutely is concern for the public,' Knudsen said. Numerous public events were canceled over the weekend as the search entered its third day, according to local Facebook pages. Robert Wyatt, 70, said he was neighbors with 70-year-old David Allen Leach, one of the three bar patrons killed on Friday morning. The two men lived next door to each other in a public housing complex for elderly people and people with disabilities. "Everybody is nervous' since Friday, Wyatt said. Leach was deaf and kept mostly to himself, Wyatt said, and he only recalls Leach having a family visit once almost a year ago. But Leach was always happy to help his neighbors with chores like moving furniture. 'If you needed help, Dave would help,' Wyatt said. 'He was a good neighbor.' Investigators are considering all possible options for Brown's whereabouts, the attorney general said. That includes searching the woods where Brown hunted and camped while he was a kid. But Knudsen noted that during peak tourist season in western Montana some law enforcement officials would have to return to their local jurisdictions for their regular responsibilities. Brown served in the Army as an armor crewman from 2001 to 2005 and deployed to Iraq from early 2004 until March 2005, said Lt. Col. Ruth Castro, an Army spokesperson. Brown was in the Montana National Guard from 2006 to March 2009, Castro said, and left military service at the rank of sergeant. Brown's niece, Clare Boyle, told The Associated Press that her uncle has struggled with mental illness for years and she and other family members repeatedly sought help. 'This isn't just a drunk/high man going wild,' she said in a Facebook message. 'It's a sick man who doesn't know who he is sometimes and frequently doesn't know where or when he is either.' Knudsen said on Sunday that Brown was known to local law enforcement before the shooting. It was widely believed that he knew at least some of the victims, given how close he lived to the bar. Law enforcement released a photograph of Brown from surveillance footage taken shortly after the fatal shootings. He appeared to be barefoot and in minimal clothing. But law enforcement now believes Brown ditched the vehicle he escaped in and stole a different one that had camping gear, shoes and clothes in it — leaving open the possibility that Brown is now clothed. The last time that law enforcement saw Brown was on Friday afternoon, but there was 'some confusion' because there were multiple white vehicles involved, Knudsen said. There is a $7,500 reward for any information that leads to Brown's capture. 'This is still Montana. Montanans know how to take care of themselves. But please, if you have any sightings, call 911,' Knudsen said. Safiyah Riddle, The Associated Press
