"These people dont follow rules or laws. . Before 2015, when the Panama City Beach City Council passed a series of ordinances designed to limit Spring Break madness, the city was known as the "Spring Break capital of the United States" and attracted tens of thousands of party-hungry tourists every year. The nightly cutoff is normally 4 a.m. Their sole intention is to break the law andcause havoc. Spring breakers play beach games at Panama City Beach. 08. 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. Hatteras Beach, North Carolina, which has . However, other residents believe that more needs to be done by government and law enforcementofficials. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. "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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Updated: Mar 1, 2023 / 10:05 PM CST. These ordinances prohibit alcohol possession or consumption on the beaches. Talamantez said crowds were not violent but some revelers were "acting a fool," according to the report. During a Monday press conference, the police brass showed an assortment of seized weapons that ranged from pistols to shotguns tosemi-automatic rifles. "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. 02. "It's not the right direction to move," Volkov said of the past weekend. Arrest and at least one night in the County Jail. 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.". 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.. For the month of March, no drinking on the beach?. During a chaotic Saturday night and Sunday evening, officers with the Beach Police Department, Panama City Police Department, Bay County Sheriff's Office and Florida Highway Patrol confiscated 75 illegal guns and arrested more than 160people. (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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 02, 2023, 11:31 a.m. An image from a press conference. A spring break party in the Florida Panhandle turned violent early Saturday after seven people, including at least three college students, were shot at a Panama City Beach house, officials said . Panama City Beach, FL. We "were driving down the road and there were these people getting pulled over and they were unloading an AR and everything," Hawkins said. Copyright 2023 WJHG. Everybody is positive.. PANAMA CITY BEACH Law enforcement officials say more than three dozen suspects have been taken off the streets in connection with a spring break riot at a Beach Walmart and a. Panama City Beach Police Chief J.R. Talamantez said, We are reminding locals and visitors alike. Panama City Beach, Fla. (WMBB) With Spring Break getting into gear, traveling families and tourists are searching for the best place where they can get the most out of the World's Most . Violence and fighting is strictly prohibited. Spring breakers drive up and down S Pier Park Drive enjoying the nightlife in Panama City Beach, Florida. 4 min read PANAMA CITY BEACH Local law enforcement officials say while they knew weeks in advance that a potentially dangerous. Low speed vehicles must follow the rules of the road and are not allowed on Hutchison Boulevard or Panama City Beach Parkway. You have permission to edit this article. Some residents said they applaudlaw enforcement and government officials who have worked to get thelaw breakersoff the street. But it's not . Market data provided by Factset. It was at that time the parking lotof the Shoppes at Edgewater was "so jammed full of these idiots," he said. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Panama City Beach is a popular destination spot for tourists and spring breakers. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. More than 100 people congregated in the Walmart parking lot during the riot and wereshown on video taking over the store. "I saw the old Spring Break, and I've seen the new Spring Break, (which was better until Saturday night).". In the adjoiningrestaurant, she said workers were having an even harder time. Riding on the exterior of vehicles, including sitting on the edge of window sills and standing up through the sun roof, is strictly prohibited. Talamantez said they are still investigating the case and looking for additional suspects. "When we start seeing events named 'takeovers' and 'maniacs' and things like that, (they) cause us concern," Ford said. Panama City Beach Police Department officials held a press conference Wednesday morning to unveil the arrests from Operation Rollback and Operation Rogue Wave. PANAMA CITY BEACH Restaurant owner Dave Trepanier, who has lived in Bay County for the past 15 years, described this weekend as "a glimpse into the bad past" of Panama City Beach,. Panama City Beach resident Franis Vanzuelasaid she wants to see more places closedown, so the spring breakers can leave. However, across the Hathaway Bridge in Panama City, some of those same rules dont apply. Its a really pretty beach. "And then afterwards, it took us over an hour to get home because all the roads were closed down. Dogs are only allowed at the designated Dog Beach west of the City Pier. He also said that while crime was rampant during the past weekend, things could have been a lot worse if it would not have been for the seamless teamwork of all local law enforcement agencies. Talamantez noted that once his department learned about the "Panamaniac take over event," officers began warning local business owners. There are 15 individuals that came to Panama City Beach and had so much fun here. PANAMA CITY BEACH Sariah Hookerhas lived in Panama City Beachfor 12 years. "We prevented this specific group, these specific influencers from hosting these events in Panama City Beach,"Talamantez said. 11:30 AM - 01:30 PM. 1. Our goal is to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for our residents and visitors, said Panama City Beach police chief J.R. Talamantez in a statement. "Our staff had to continue to accommodate them in the middle of all this destructive behavior, so their safety was put at risk.". Regardless, residents can agree on one thing:They never want to experience this nightmare again. 999 reviews. Panama City Beach Police warn visitors ahead of Spring Break season. All rights reserved. Yet, Campbell said it was a lot more intense than he realized. With 27 miles of sugar white beaches, this destination gem boasts some of the very best in nightlife, events, and hotel accommodations that will fit within any budget. To offer Spring Break events like never before, Southern Comfort will be living it up at Harpoon Harry's in Panama City Beach, . And we're gonna come kick your door in," Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford said. Panama City Beach leaders reminded the public Wednesday that the "Spring Break" laws have begun and will be "strictly enforced." For more News, Weather, and . Three. All rights reserved. We decided to try to invite them back.". Don't pretend we live in a world where evil does not exist because time and time again, you see that it does.". Ive seen the police break them up a few times, Bruyn said. New ordinance aligns city, county, PCB in emergency situations in wake of spring break chaos, 161 people arrested in Panamaniac spring break weekend: Heres a breakdown of the charges, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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). 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. Local businesses are fully aware of the laws in place and will act accordingly. The consumption of alcohol in parking lots and in vehicles is not allowed. "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. Drinking alcohol on the sandy beaches and behind the wheel is also not permitted. This is not our community.' TheBeach experienced an onslaughtof what are being dubbed "true criminals" onFriday evening,complete with a shooting, crowdsand even a stampede at the Walmart at the intersection of Front Beach and Middle Beach roads. The cruise line's updated contract follows a spate of unruly guest behavior across the tourism industry. Panama City Beach is a resort town in Northwest Florida on the Gulf of Mexico coast. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. This zero-tolerance policy includes a ban on underage drinking, traffic disruption, loud music, and pop-up parties in businesses or empty lots. For us, its a good thing because it scares the bazebras out of people like me, Bruyn said. ", 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.". 'What justice looks like': 160 people arrested, 75 guns seized during chaotic PCB spring break weekend, 'A glimpse into the bad past': Panama City Beach businesses shut doors amid spring break chaos. Published: Mar. The event, which leaders say was dubbed by organizersas"Panamaniac," resulted in more than 160 arrests, the confiscation of 75 illegal guns, one shooting with non-life-threatening injuries and numerous closures of roads and businesses. A slew of rules are enforced throughout the entire month of March. 29, 2022 at 2:49 PM PDT COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) - As Spring Break kicks into high gear with Muscogee County students out next week, could changes happen in Panama City. Marshals Service. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. 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. "This act that he wants to bring to town has actually been investigated for a racketeering case involving homicide and money laundering, drug trafficking, a bunch of other things.". "This is a perfect place away from the spring break crowd!". Panama City Beach Council members on Thursday unanimously approved an . If they are still wanting to continue their party atmosphere, they come over to the Panama City side to the adult establishments which are open for the extra two hours, Chief Smith said. ", Sunday's shooting: Man shot in the foot, over 50 guns seized amid spring break in Panama City Beach, Scenes from the chaos:Shooting in heart of spring break area prompts heavy police response, Flash mobs, riots and 21 illegal guns: BCSO, PCB PD deploy 'every available resource' Saturday.