Over 400 people arrested during chaos at Newport Beach July 4th celebrations, police say<\/a><\/p>\nThe chaos included fireworks, blocked roads, fights and the looting of a Pavilions grocery store. Police said people launched fireworks into crowds and directly at police officers.<\/p>\n
“There were so many people crowding police when they had to take action. It was overwhelming. The anxiety that everybody was feeling around here was seriously intense,” said James, who was vacationing in Newport Beach. “Fireworks being thrown in the middle of crowds. Fireworks being thrown in the middle of the police. Fireworks being set off in front of people’s homes, under their cars. You’ve got kids ranging from babies up to early teenagers, and you’re worried for their safety because you never know what’s going to happen. The parents were very much on edge.”<\/p>\n
“It was bad on the 4th just to not be able to leave our house. They eventually told us to shelter in place. We couldn’t go out to eat. Couldn’t go out the front, the back, stuff like that. So that was a bummer,” said Tamara Swindle-Warfield, who was also vacationing in the area.<\/p>\n
According to the Newport Beach Police Department, 402 people were arrested from 6 p.m. Friday, July 3, through 6 a.m. Sunday, July 5 — mainly for refusing to leave once an unlawful assembly was declared. About half of the arrests were made during a single incident in the Balboa Peninsula.<\/p>\n
During the same time period last year, Newport Beach police said just 60 arrests were made.<\/p>\n
“We think that a vast majority of these people came to Newport Beach from out of state, Arizona and Nevada being the two main locations. A lot of the people that were arrested were young adults or juveniles, so we do implore that parents who are sending their kids to other states to celebrate summer or spring break, that they have them celebrate responsibly, and preferably be there with their children,” said Lt. Eric Little with Newport Beach Police.<\/p>\n
The gathering of thousands — reportedly organized on TikTok — overwhelmed police. Fights broke out, streets were blocked and fireworks were launched at people, including at police officers, injuring one officer.<\/p>\n
The outside display at a Pavilions supermarket was destroyed, but police say the inside of the store was not accessed by the crowds. Although the city of Newport Beach said they’ve been planning for the holiday weekend for months, things clearly got out of hand.<\/p>\n
“Five thousand plus people up and down this beach. I mean, just guesstimating, the police were outnumbered 500 to one,” James said. “A crowd of 500 people together, trying to beat up on others, throwing fireworks at people’s faces. That kind of stuff. That is not the Newport that everybody comes to see.”<\/p>\n
One Newport Beach city councilman said this is not the standard that the city should accept, and he will work with public safety to prevent a repeat.<\/p>\n
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