Many of those arrested were from Alabama.Panama City Beach Police Department, In the wake of what officials termed a lawless spring break in 2022, Panama City Beach adopted a series of so-called spring break laws.. We've been there and done that. 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. Among those arrested in 2022 were 15 people involved with a riot at a PCB Walmart officials said was instigated by social media influencers. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Loitering in parking lots or on the shoulder of the roadway is strictly prohibited. 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. PCB Spring Break: from chaotic to family-friendly. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, It was nothing to do with Spring Break. We have to keep a little bit of a closer eye on that during spring break because those kids are on a budget.. 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. In response to the many circulating social media posts that. As well as they are going to work diligently with the police department and the fire department to maintain their numbers within the inside and handle their own internal security.. All rights reserved. Stephanie Pagones is a Digital Reporter for FOX Business and Fox News. This is a resort town. "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. PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - The Panama City Beach Police Department told NewsChannel 7 they are continuing to deal with large crowds of spring breakers. 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. But, like most Panama City Beach residents,she's never experienced anything as chaotic as this pastweekend. PANAMA CITY BEACH The Panama City Police Department warned potential Spring Break visitors Wednesday that officers will enforce the citys law with zero tolerance during the upcoming season. Officials expect the largest crowds on March 23-27. 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. "Have upfront raw communication with children. (Joshua Comins/Fox News Digital), Spring breakers drive up and down S Pier Park Drive enjoying the nightlife in Panama City Beach, Florida. Spring break in Panama City Beach: PCB much tamer, but police still battling Spring Break beach booze. Here's the scoop. Q: Do people have the right to take your picture and publish it without your permission? These are criminals who came to our town to be lawless and create havoc, Sheldon said at the time, adding that we saw a lot of folks from Montgomery and Birmingham who came down to just create trouble.. Climbing, jumping from, or throwing things from balconies is not allowed. 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 provide a safe and enjoyable environment for our residents and visitors, said Panama City Beach Police Chief J.R Talamantez. Let's put that in perspective. PANAMA CITY BEACH Sariah Hookerhas lived in Panama City Beachfor 12 years. Law enforcement officials in Bay County said Sunday . Those huge crowds caused roads to be shut down in Panama City Beach. Copyright 2023 WJHG. Regardless, residents can agree on one thing:They never want to experience this nightmare again. "We could have had multiple homicides and we could have ended up in national news with officer-involved shootings," he said. Caught in the crossfire of chaos were residents and vacationing families. Panama City Beach in Florida makes for the most exciting spring break for being a unique party hub where people are promised to have the time of their life. Everybody has to have a valid drivers license.. Don't pretend we live in a world where evil does not exist because time and time again, you see that it does.". Planning Board Meeting- Cancelled. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. Longtime Panama City Beach residents and vacationers are speaking out against the violence that plagued their beloved beach town during the weekend. Be responsible and act within the boundaries of the law. Music heard more than 25 feet away is illegal. "These individuals jumped at the opportunity to try to have sex with a kid; 24 in this small beach town were taken into custody," Talamantez said. Ocean City Beach, Maryland, which has free parking, $7.97 sunscreen, $2.08 sodas, $64.18 accommodations and a total nightly price per person of $77.23. LikeTrepanier,Volkov said the weekend wasa reminder on why PCB officials have worked tirelessly during the past decade to rebrand the area into a family-friendly destination, and not a hotspot for lawless and rowdy tourists. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. These ordinances prohibit alcohol possession or consumption on the beaches. A Dothan man has been arrested and charged with one count of rape. Panama City officials prepared for spring breakers, 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. "It's not the right direction to move," Volkov said of the past weekend. Talamantez added that law enforcement officialswanted to get ahead of any issues beforethe Memorial Day weekend, saying they already have detected a potential issuefrom a local business owner. Local law enforcement officials announced Monday that they confiscated 75 illegal guns and arrested more than 160people throughout the weekend. 11:30 AM - 01:30 PM. Spring breakers pulled over by police along front beach road in Panama City beach, Florida. "Honestly, I was blown away. George Santos Under Scrutiny CBS News App All rights reserved. "Maybe like farther up. She's seen some calm spring breaks and some crazy ones. Everybody is positive.. ", '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. "Well , my husband scheduled several trips to new properties Bluegreen has purchased. FLORIDA SPRING BREAKERS CARRY ON IN PANAMA CITY, FAR AWAY FROM TROUBLES IN MIAMI BEACH. Alcohol sales will also stop at 2 a.m. during the entire month of March. Over 1 Million College Students Can't Be Wrong! Yes, I have. Those arrested for violating any of the above City ordinances will serve a minimum of one night in jail, with the potential to serve up to 60 days and pay a fine of up to $500. 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. She's seen some calm spring breaks and some crazy ones. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford said that 161 people were arrested and jailed over the weekend and that officers seized 75 guns. "We saw a 15.6% increase in March of . "Close it down, close down spring break," Crockett said. The News Herald. "I see it getting worse because law enforcement can't keep up with the crowd," Crockett said. Ive seen the police break them up a few times, Bruyn said. "I never expected this. Unfortunately, you cant ban people from coming here and you never know the type of people who choose to vacation here," Hooker said. To offer Spring Break events like never before, Southern Comfort will be living it up at Harpoon Harry's in Panama City Beach, . "I think our government and law enforcement are doing the best they can do in situations like this. You can have fun here without being involved in illegal activities. Answer Man: Is it illegal to take pictures of people without their permission? PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Panama City Beach is a popular destination spot for tourists and spring breakers. Legal Statement. Spring Break. All rights reserved. For the month of March, no drinking on the beach?. 22, 2022 at 8:59 PM PDT. It may be hard to believe for some . Panama City Beach woman . "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.". Walmart had closed down and it was just, it was a mess.". PANAMA CITY BEACH Local law enforcement officials say while they knew weeks in advance that a potentially dangerous event was planned for this past weekend in Panama City Beach, they cannot control who visits the area. In the five-day sting from May 18 to22, police said 13 people were charged withtraveling to meet a child for sexual activity,six were charged with possessing and/or disturbing child pornography,one was charged with felony drug and weapons charges, and one was arrested on a sexual battery charge out of Alabama. ", 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. 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. By Katie Bente. Local officials said the city was targeted by a group of . 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 . At a press conference on Monday, law. Fox News Flash top headlines for March 27, prompting police to descend upon the area. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Geneva County coach Holmes juggling new son and leading Lady Dawgs to state tournament, Dothan native, former Auburn star Blake Burkhalter of Atlanta Braves to have Tommy John surgery, Dothan physician, daughter killed in single-vehicle crash near Barbour County line, Dothan Wolves fall to Hoover in Class 7A basketball semifinals, Elba girls battle with grit, but fall short against Marion County in 1A state semifinals, 14 charts that show how the economy is performing in Alabama, George Scott named head coach for Enterprise State Lady Weevils basketball, PREP BASEBALL ROUNDUP: Draper strikes out 16 to spark Carroll win, SATURDAY PREP BASEBALL: Dothan rallies past Houston Academy, PREP BASEBALL ROUNDUP: Steed's double helps Ariton defeat Opp, Dothan Wolves not worried about underdog label going against Hoover, PREP SOFTBALL ROUNDUP: McCarthys run-scoring hit gives Dothan victory, Houston County real estate transfers Feb. 21-Feb. 23, 2023. Our local law enforcement did the best they could, giving the hand they were dealt and I, for one, commend them for doing so.". Talamantez said the business owner will get back to him this week about the event. The nightly cutoff is normally 4 a.m. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Panama City Beach, Florida, has long been deemed a mecca for spring breakers due to its dazzling 27 miles of soft, sugar-sand beaches, bountiful waterfront bars, and premier theme parties. Kyle Volkov, owner of Axe Throwing PCB, which also is in the Shoppes at Edgewater plaza, said he decided to close his businesson Saturday night as well. Southern Comfort Mar 02, 2023, 08:30 ET . The small business specializes in golf cart rentals. 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 . 999 reviews. Law enforcement officials said the arrests send a strong message to anyone coming to Panama City Beach with ill intentions. Period," Talamantez said. There was an agreement that hey we are responsible for enforcing what we need to enforce on our property and with ever activities happen on our property, Panama City Commissioner Josh Street said. Music should not be audible from 25 feet away. If something doesnt seem right it probably isnt, so use good judgement. The consumption of alcohol in parking lots and in vehicles is not allowed. Market data provided by Factset. 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. Law enforcement officials in Bay County . Seller, buyer, property location, total purchase price, date. One of them was Dianne Crockett, a Front Beach Road resident. 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. In one reported incident, an Alabama man was shot in the foot. And multiple businesses, including a Walmart store on Front Beach Road, shuttered early on Saturday, MyPanhandle.com reported. "I saw the old Spring Break, and I've seen the new Spring Break, (which was better until Saturday night).". And you know, we raise our families here. All rights reserved. Bluegreen's Bayside Resort and Spa. MORE NEWS . Spring breakers pulled over by police along front beach road in Panama City beach, Florida. PANAMA CITY BEACH A portion of the beach will once again be closed overnight this spring. "In general, it's a lot of fun here," Canadian Visitor Tony. 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. 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 play beach games at Panama City Beach. 2023 www.newsherald.com. Yet, Campbell said it was a lot more intense than he realized. 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. or redistributed. Law enforcement and city officials are cracking down on those who don't abide by the rules this spring break. Best Spring Break Trip Locations for 2023. Law enforcement officials have detained over 160 people in Panama City Beach following a spring break weekend that saw massive crowds of people disrupting the area, officials said. Trepanier said hedecided to wrap up for the night at about 5:30 p.m. "There was really no way to get to us, other than by foot," he said. You can cancel at any time. Panama City Beach prepares for spring break crowd The battle over Spring Break had been building for years as then-Sheriff Frank McKeithen, some local residents and others tried to. MONTGOMERY Kenneth Glasgow, a Dothan pastor and founder of the Christian-based nonprofit The Ordinary People Society, pleaded guilty Friday . We encourage all residents and visitors to speak up. They face a variety of charges, including inciting a riot, felony criminal mischief, disorderly conductand theft during a riot-related disturbance. (Joshua Comins/Fox News Digital). Dogs are only allowed at the designated Dog Beach west of the City Pier. The consumption of alcohol in parking lots and in vehicles is not allowed. Since businesses in Panama City can stay open later in March, Chief Smith said he planned ahead before Spring Break season arrived. However, things may take a turn for those who dont follow PCBs spring break ordinances. 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. 26, 2022 at 8:51 PM PDT PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - The Panama City Beach Police. Music heard more than 25 feet away is illegal. The Russell Fields City Pier has been designated as a nosmoking zone on both sides. "This is a perfect place away from the spring break crowd!". Panama City Beach, Florida is considered the "Spring Break Capital Of The World" as it is the number one choice for students wanting the ultimate Spring Break experience. Any holes dug should be properly filled in for the safety of all. 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. PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Law enforcement agencies are doing everything they can to make sure spring break doesnt get out of hand again. Show prices. Is our economy doing better or worse? THE ULTIMATE SPRING BREAK VIP CARD FOR 30 YEARS! Panama City Beach Police warn visitors ahead of Spring Break season. All rights reserved (About Us). There was only one shooting, which Ford noted occurred off Front Beach Road. "But don't put your head in the sand. Some residents said they applaudlaw enforcement and government officials who have worked to get thelaw breakersoff the street. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Beach police have been patrolling the area and say the. Panama City Beach is limiting the number of people who may gather together on the sand during spring break. And we're gonna come kick your door in," Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford said. There are 15 individuals that came to Panama City Beach and had so much fun here. 1:38 PANAMA CITY BEACH With the spring break season here, Daryl Paul says it's crucial for everyone to follow the beach flag warning system. Police break up spring break crowd at Panama City Beach. Published: Mar. Crowds remained on the sidewalks, while vehicular traffic was also heavy, he reportedly said. Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. We were seeing (them) with rifles in backpacks.". "That's what this (was). All local law enforcement agencies have partnered together for spring break. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). These are people who are not affiliated with any college and come to the area within driving distances. Funded by Bay Point Advisors, LLC, this brand-new Comfort . However, across the Hathaway Bridge in Panama City, some of those same rules dont apply. A shooting occurred during spring break in Panama City, March 28, 2015. "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. (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. 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. 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. "We're like 20 minutes away from the ball field and it took us an hour to get there," Crockett said. Please subscribe to keep reading. As spring break season continues, many fear what is to come and if law enforcement is prepared. "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.". 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. 4 min read PANAMA CITY BEACH Local law enforcement officials say while they knew weeks in advance that a potentially dangerous. Up to a $500 fine or imprisonment in the County Jail up to 60 days. #1 Best Value of 12 Spring Break Resorts in Panama City Beach. But it's not . Panama City Beach Police Department officials released the following statement to NewsChannel 7. 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. Ford, along with Beach Police Chief J.R. Talamantez, said because they cannot prevent who visits the area, it will be up to local businesses to help law enforcement curbany future outbreaks similar to the chaos of this past weekend. Metal shovels and holes deeper than two feet are not permitted on the beach. Their sole intention is to break the law andcause havoc. Entrepreneur - Amanda Breen 1d. Some specifically travel to prey on spring breakers. Panama City Beach Police don't mess around when it comes to rule-breakers.