panama city beach spring break news
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 . Police Chief J.R. Talamantez warned visitors that the police will take swift action against individuals who come with ill intentions. In response to the many circulating social media posts that. Talamantez said it is important for parents and teachers to monitor their children online and to have a talk with them about the dangers of online predators. All rights reserved. Some specifically travel to prey on spring breakers. Panama City Beach Police Department officials held a press conference Wednesday morning to unveil the arrests from Operation Rollback and Operation Rogue Wave. You can have fun here without being involved in illegal activities. Panama City man charged with DUI after hitting SRO with car, Judge sets bond for 76-year-old woman accused of killing terminally ill husband, Man facing more charges after arrest on active warrants in Jackson County, Chipley falls in title game, South Walton beats Walton on the baseball diamond, Arnold falls on softball diamond. News provided by. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Trepanier said he, his staff and their customers at hisupscale Fireflyin the Shoppes at Edgewater plaza spent practically the entire weekend grappling with unrulycrowds set on creating chaos in Panama City Beach. In one reported incident, an Alabama man was shot in the foot. This zero-tolerance policy includes a ban on underage drinking, traffic disruption, loud music, and pop-up parties in businesses or empty lots. "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.". Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. It resulted in non-life-threatening injuries to anunnamed 21-year-old from Alabama. PANAMA CITY BEACH Fla. (WMBB) Spring breakers are in Panama City Beach and even with a pandemic, this year is no different. Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford said that 161 people were arrested and jailed over the weekend and that officers seized 75 guns. Walmart had closed down and it was just, it was a mess.". Southern Comfort Mar 02, 2023, 08:30 ET . Beach police were joined by multiple agencies for the two operations. I feel like we are far better prepared going into this spring break than we have been in the past, Panama City Police Chief Mark Smith said. You can have fun here without being involved in illegal activities. #1 Best Value of 12 Spring Break Resorts in Panama City Beach. The consumption of alcohol in parking lots and in vehicles is not allowed. We've seen when somebody calls something a takeover what can happen. PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Two shootings and massive crowds of spring breakers have pushed the city of Miami Beach to declare a state of emergency. MONTGOMERY Kenneth Glasgow, a Dothan pastor and founder of the Christian-based nonprofit The Ordinary People Society, pleaded guilty Friday . 75 guns seized from Panama City Beach Spring Breakers during - WEAR Fox News Flash top headlines are here. "We utilized the video that these criminals were circulating themselves, trying to broadcast and trying to broadcast themselves committing these crimes and trying to gain some type of social fame," Police Chief J.R. Talamantez said. Our local law enforcement did the best they could, giving the hand they were dealt and I, for one, commend them for doing so.". Low speed vehicles must follow the rules of the road and are not allowed on Hutchison Boulevard or Panama City Beach Parkway. 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. Panama City Beach is limiting the number of people who may gather together on the sand during spring break. Unfortunately, you cant ban people from coming here and you never know the type of people who choose to vacation here," Hooker said. Florida: Over 160 arrested in Panama City beach as spring break crowds Hawkins and Miller said they were nervous learning about all the events that were happening, scared they would get kidnapped with all the people running around at night. PANAMA CITY BEACH A portion of the beach will once again be closed overnight this spring. Local law enforcement officials announced Monday that they confiscated 75 illegal guns and arrested more than 160people throughout the weekend. Loud music which disturbs the peace is prohibited. and last updated 6:56 AM, Mar 29, 2022 161 people were arrested during what some social media groups were calling "PCB Takeover" at Panama City Beach over the weekend. SPRING BREAKERS LET LOOSE AMID NATIONWIDE CRIME SPIKE, CURFEW ENACTED IN ONE POPULAR DESTINATION. Climbing, jumping from, or throwing things from balconies is not allowed. Spring break in Panama City Beach: PCB much tamer, but police still battling Spring Break beach booze. Spring breakers 'not taking anything over': WCSO addresses concerns Panama City Beach is anticipating an uptick in visitors during Spring Break next month. Panama City Beach Police warn visitors ahead of Spring Break season Legal Statement. Longtime Panama City Beach residents and vacationers are speaking out against the violence that plagued their beloved beach town during the weekend. "I felt unsafe in a place that I have called home for many years and that is a horrible feeling. Spring break 2022: 161 arrested, 75 guns seized in Panama City Beach "Maybe like farther up. Best Spring Break Trip Locations for 2023. 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 spring break riot, child-sex sting suspects arrested If something doesnt seem right it probably isnt, so use good judgement. "I feel like (law enforcement)haven't handled it too great because there's been like a lot of people getting shot and places getting vandalized," Vanzuela said. 160 arrests, 75 guns seized during PCB spring break, One injured in Front Beach Roadshooting, over 50 guns seized, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Spring breakers play beach games at Panama City Beach. Panama City Beach has the following accommodations new and newly renovated for 2023: Comfort Inn & Suites - Now Open. "This is a perfect place away from the spring break crowd!". While the pastweekend's trouble makers were not traditional spring breakers, Ford noted that they were similar to what officials have referred to as the "hundred-milers." Petty is wanted for carrying a concealed firearm; Reese is wanted for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, carrying a concealed firearm, and resisting without violence. . While the area has a total population of only 15,000, it attracts more than 4.5 million visitors every year, who come to enjoy the hot summer sun and witness the various unique attractions . 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.". College students gather in Panama City Beach, FL during spring break in March 2020. Ive seen the police presence, and Ive seen the people scatter.. Talamantez and Beach Mayor Mark Sheldon also said that one of the things they are most frustrated about is that this weekend might have scared off first-time visitors who do not know how hard officials have worked during the past decade to rebrand the area into a family-friendly destination. Panama City Beach Spring Break laws in effect - wjtv.com Drinking alcohol on the sandy beaches and behind the wheel is also not permitted. Panama City Beach Limits Spring Break Gatherings On Sand At Wednesday's meeting, Panama City Police Chief Mark Smith showed fliers for a couple of such events, one a "spring break takeover" at a Panama City Club called Vibez on March 26, the. NewsBreak provides latest and breaking Panama City Beach, FL local news, weather forecast, crime and safety reports, traffic updates, event notices, sports, entertainment, local life and other items of interest in the community and nearby towns. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. County and city align with PCB:New ordinance aligns city, county, PCB in emergency situations in wake of spring break chaos, Breakdown of spring break arrests:161 people arrested in Panamaniac spring break weekend: Heres a breakdown of the charges. Some residents said they applaudlaw enforcement and government officials who have worked to get thelaw breakersoff the street. Police may also temporarily close the beaches if things get out of hand. The consumption of alcohol in parking lots and in vehicles is not allowed. Crowds remained on the sidewalks, while vehicular traffic was also heavy, he reportedly said. If you see something, say something, if you see something that might indicate that somebody has those types of tendenciesand those interests that involve some type of sexual interest in children, we need to know about it. 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. 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. As long as they follow through with that, I do not anticipate us passing any more laws.. According to the department, they are working with the Bay County Sheriffs Office, Lynn Haven Police Department, the Florida Highway Patrol, Panama City Police Department along with other surrounding agencies. PANAMA CITY, Fla. ( WMBB) Panama City Beach is expecting a big boom in business with spring breakers and tourists soon coming to Bay County. During a Monday press conference, the police brass showed an assortment of seized weapons that ranged from pistols to shotguns tosemi-automatic rifles.