All rights reserved. It was a chaotic scene this weekend in Panama City as spring break crowds recklessly stormed the beaches and bars. ", According to Panama City Police Department Chief Mark Smith, the visitors toBay County whocaused the weekend'schaos were not traditional spring breakers, but "true criminals.". Best Spring Break Trip Locations for 2023. Legal Statement. (Joshua Comins/Fox News Digital), Spring breakers drive up and down S Pier Park Drive enjoying the nightlife in Panama City Beach, Florida. There are 15 individuals that came to Panama City Beach and had so much fun here. PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. Law enforcement agencies arrested more than 160 people and confiscated dozens of guns last weekend as revelers flocked to Florida's Panama City Beach for spring break . Panama City Beach Police warn visitors ahead of Spring Break season. In Panama City Beach, there are several spring break laws in place that started on March 1 and end on March 31. PANAMA CITY BEACH The Panama City Police Department warned potential Spring Break visitors Wednesday that officers will enforce the city's law with zero tolerance during the. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Going by the stage name Diesel, he is scheduled to perform live during Spring Break in Panama City Beach on March 16 at Harpoon Harry's. At 7'1 and 325 pounds, Shaq's larger-than-life personality and powerful Don't pretend we live in a world where evil does not exist because time and time again, you see that it does.". Panama City Commissioners last year considered adopting the alcohol ordinance, but after speaking and working with local businesses they decided not to adopt it. "I see it getting worse because law enforcement can't keep up with the crowd," Crockett said. For the month of March, no drinking on the beach?. All the suspects are from Alabama and range in age from 17 to 37. Trepanier noted that at about 7 p.m. Saturday, local law enforcement officials asked him to consider closing early so they could close portions of surrounding roads and redirect traffic out of the area. Marshals Service. "This is a perfect place away from the spring break crowd!". "When we start seeing events named 'takeovers' and 'maniacs' and things like that, (they) cause us concern," Ford said. "You can rest assured that if you're chatting with an underage person inBay County for the purposes of having sex, you're probably chatting with one of us and if you download child pornography, we're going to know about it. PANAMA CITY BEACH An influx of crime this weekend during spring break in Panama City Beach led to more than 160 arrests in Bay County. Be responsible and act within the boundaries of the law. Panama City Beach Police Chief J.R. Talamantez said, We are reminding locals and visitors alike. With the help ofinformation gathered online, they were able to locate ongoing crimes through the Bay Real Time Operations Center, a new division that accesses and utilizes live feeds from traffic lights and security cameras throughout the county. Florida's beaches and bars are already seeing the first throngs of college students on break, crowding beaches and bars - and worrying public health experts around the country who see the weeks. General, Fire & Police Pension Boards Meeting. Florida law enforcement officials say they arrested 78 people from Alabama in Panama City Beach, Fla., over the weekend and confiscated 75 guns as spring break revelry devolved into chaos. And multiple businesses, including a Walmart store on Front Beach Road, shuttered early on Saturday, MyPanhandle.com reported. "We prevented this specific group, these specific influencers from hosting these events in Panama City Beach,"Talamantez said. "I felt unsafe in a place that I have called home for many years and that is a horrible feeling. Panama City Beach expected a large crowd this weekend. The riot took place during a chaoticspring break weekend, where officers with the Beach Police Department, Panama City Police Department, Bay County Sheriff's Officeand Florida Highway Patrol confiscated 75 illegal guns and arrested more than 160people. It's the only pandemic-related restriction in place at the start of the busy month for tourism. Panama City Beach's police chief admonished the crowds gathered for spring break after a 21-year-old from Alabama was shot in the foot on Sunday. Use the buddy system and never leave your friends. As spring break season continues, many fear what is to come and if law enforcement is prepared. We have approximately 100 officers from our agency, the Bay County Sheriffs Office, Lynn Haven Police Department, Panama City Police Department, and Florida Highway Patrol along with other surrounding agencies, to provide service to our residents, visitors, and businesses. The consumption of alcohol in parking lots and in vehicles is not allowed. According to PCBPD officials, rioters overturned shopping carts, raked items off store shelves, intimidated other shoppers and employees, and destroyed various areas of the store. "Maybe like farther up. Panama City Beach Police don't mess around when it comes to rule-breakers. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). You can cancel at any time. Spring Break 2021 in Panama City Beach As she stood with her friends on the beach on March 25 near the Russell-Fields Pier, with double-red flags flying overhead and a gusty sea breeze. If something doesnt seem right it probably isnt, so use good judgement. NOTE: The VIP cards once purchased will not be mailed. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Please subscribe to keep reading. ", 'What justice looks like in Bay County':160 arrests, 75 guns seized during PCB spring break, Chaos inPCB:One injured in Front Beach Roadshooting, over 50 guns seized. At Panama City Beach, no alcohol is allowed on beaches, bars will close at 2 a.m., rather than 4 a.m., and special events will have no more than 125 people. Parking in closed businesses lots or city rights of way after dark is prohibited. ", 'What justice looks like in Bay County': 160 arrests, 75 guns seized during PCB spring break, 'Close down spring break': Residents, vacationing families caught in crossfire of PCB chaos. 11:30 AM - 01:30 PM. "We saw this specific group attempting to come down to Panama City Beach, and we identified that they were looking for locations (to gather) all over the Beach.". I'd look at these condos that are right across the street from me, and I'd think 'There's families in there who have never been here before. More than 100 people congregated in the Walmart parking lot during the riot and wereshown on video taking over the store. Spring Break. Here's the scoop. City officials said in a statement on Saturday that they had "expected a large crowd" during the weekend and had formulated a plan, according to several local reports. (Joshua Comins/Fox News Digital). Dont come here as a criminal and leave here and find yourself in the bay county jail or go home on probation and come back here and answer to the court system, Chief Smith said. "That's the part that's disheartening," Sheldon said of tourists who now might not want to come back. Period," Talamantez said. Music heard more than 25 feet away is illegal. Everybody has to have a valid drivers license.. "We weren't just seeing (criminals with) a 38 Special in the pocket. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Be responsible and act within the boundaries of the law. The Russell Fields City Pier has been designated as a nosmoking zone on both sides. SPRING BREAKERS LET LOOSE AMID NATIONWIDE CRIME SPIKE, CURFEW ENACTED IN ONE POPULAR DESTINATION. Crockett said in her 16 years of living in the area, this is one of the most dangerous spring breaks she's seen. Spring breakers pulled over by police along front beach road in Panama City beach, Florida. Updated: Mar 1, 2023 / 07:43 PM CST. "When your customers can't get to you because the roads are blocked off because there's a crime scene, there's not a whole heck of a lot you can do.". It then remained open on Sunday. We've seen when somebody calls something a takeover what can happen. Florida spring break revelers crowded parts of Panama City Beach on Saturday night, prompting police to descend upon the area and causing several businesses to close for the day, according to a local report. "Have upfront raw communication with children. I expect a lot of partying and a lot of people having fun and things like that, but didn't expect the level of like vandalism and violence involved.". For new residents, like Orlando-native Khalil Campbell, spring break was something they knew they would experience when moving to the area. It's not just residents who are concerned. From last years season, Robert Santrell Petty, 18, of Ozark, and Danyell Demetrice Reese, 26, of Headland, have outstanding arrest warrants in the coastal city. Copyright 2023 WJHG. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Law enforcement officials in Bay County . PANAMA CITY, Fla. ( WMBB) Panama City Beach is expecting a big boom in business with spring breakers and tourists soon coming to Bay County. The city and Bay County have had special ordinances in place for Spring Break since 2016. This is a resort town. We are a small blip on a big map and we were still able to arrest 24 people and put them in custody for these offenses.". All rights reserved. Were going to go and get it if theyre breaking any of the rules, Tonjua Evans, operations manager of Hangout By The Sea, said. 2023 www.newsherald.com. Regardless of who it is, go to your own town and trash your own town, quit trashingours. Panama City Beach Police Department officials released the following statement to NewsChannel 7. No metal shovels are allowed on the sandy beach, and digging holes deeper than two feet is prohibited. Alcohol sales will also stop at 2 a.m. during the entire month of March. That is what the businesses are committed to doing this year. PANAMA CITY, Fla. - With Miami Beach enforcing a strict curfew to curb a spike in spring break violence in one of the final weeks of the season, Panama City and other Florida beach. "So actually, last year, we did have a record-breaking spring break here," Banks said. . But this year, Panama City Beach is a target for criminals. Mar. "We have approximately 100 officers from our agency, the Bay County Sheriffs Office, Lynn Haven Police Department, Panama City Police Department, and Florida Highway Patrol along with other surrounding agencies, to provide service to our residents, visitors, and businesses," the statement reportedly said. "The sad thing about it was we had people who had prom reservations birthday reservations (and) anniversary reservations that we had to cancel just because of the lunacy that was going on.". Talamantez said the business owner will get back to him this week about the event. Law enforcement and city officials are cracking down on those who don't abide by the rules this spring break. (Fox News Digital/Joshua Comins) The city is also prohibiting the sale of alcohol at liquor and beer stores after 6 p.m. until March 27. Fox News Flash top headlines for March 27, prompting police to descend upon the area. Is that right? Bruyn said. 02, 2023, 12:48 p.m. | Published: Mar. Entrepreneur - Amanda Breen 1d. Panama City Beach is a resort town in Northwest Florida on the Gulf of Mexico coast. Ive seen the police break them up a few times, Bruyn said. "We want people to come to our community and enjoy our beaches and the many opportunities that we offer for recreation, but we do not want people to come here and think that they're going to terrorize our community like they may terrorize their communities back home," State Attorney Larry Basford said. Between Saturday and Sunday, 75 illegal guns were confiscated and more than 160 people were arrested in Bay County about half of whom were from Alabama. Loitering in parking lots or on the shoulder of the roadway is strictly prohibited. PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) Panama City Beach leaders reminded the public Wednesday that the "Spring Break" laws have begun and will be "strictly enforced." "Our goal is to. Panama City Beach has the following accommodations new and newly renovated for 2023: Comfort Inn & Suites - Now Open. She was taking her 4-year-old son to his baseball game when she was ran into a huge traffic jam caused by people fleeing and police being forced to shut down roads to contain the chaos. Overnight scooter rentals are prohibited. Officers from the Panama City Beach Police Department closed a two-mile stretch of Front Beach Road as of about 9 p.m. Saturday, as spring break crowds flooded the area, Chief J.R. Talamantez confirmed to MyPanhandle.com.