2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. Riding on the exterior of vehicles, including sitting on the edge of window sills and standing up through the sun roof, is strictly prohibited. Spring break 2022: 161 arrested, 75 guns seized in Panama City Beach Panama City Beach Police holds Spring Break news conference - MyPanhandle ", 160 arrests, 75 guns seized during PCB spring break, Residents, vacationing families caught in crossfire of PCB chaos, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Florida's Panama City Beach spring break revelers prompt - Fox News Loud music which disturbs the peace is prohibited. Published March 1, 2021 at 8:52 AM EST. However, other residents believe that more needs to be done by government and law enforcementofficials. Regardless, residents can agree on one thing:They never want to experience this nightmare again. 161 arrested during rowdy Spring Break weekend in Panama City Beach Dont accept anything from someone you dont know. FLORIDA SPRING BREAKERS CARRY ON IN PANAMA CITY, FAR AWAY FROM TROUBLES IN MIAMI BEACH. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 1. 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. (Joshua Comins/Fox News Digital), Spring breakers drive up and down S Pier Park Drive enjoying the nightlife in Panama City Beach, Florida. 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,. Spring Break. 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. Drinking alcohol on the sandy beaches and behind the wheel is also not permitted. But this year, Panama City Beach is a target for criminals. THE ULTIMATE SPRING BREAK VIP CARD FOR 30 YEARS! In a press conference on Sunday afternoon, Chief J.R. Talamantez of the Panama City Beach Police Department, Chief Mark Smith of the Panama City Police Department . Read on to discover everything you need to know about Panama City spring break 2023. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. But, like most Panama City Beach residents,she's never experienced anything as chaotic as this pastweekend. That is what the businesses are committed to doing this year. A slew of rules are enforced throughout the entire month of March. You can cancel at any time. While half of those arrested during spring break 2022 were Alabama residents, Panama City Beach Mayor Mark Sheldon suggested much of the lawbreaking came from people other than visiting college students. Panama City Beach Spring Break Parking in closed businesses lots or city rights of way after dark is prohibited. 08. In Panama City Beach, there are several spring break laws in place that started on March 1 and end on March 31. Show prices. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Hatteras Beach, North Carolina, which has . Deaths, violence occur during Florida spring break All rights reserved. PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. - It's known as the spring break capital of the world. 11:30 AM - 01:30 PM. 26, 2022 at 8:51 PM PDT PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - The Panama City Beach Police. ", 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. We appreciate everyones cooperation and understanding.. Panama City Beach spring break riot, child-sex sting suspects arrested NOTE: The VIP cards once purchased will not be mailed. Bluegreen's Bayside Resort and Spa. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. (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. This is a resort town. Music should not be audible from 25 feet away. Copyright 2023 WJHG. "Have upfront raw communication with children. Loitering in parking lots or on the shoulder of the roadway is strictly prohibited. Carnival Cruise Line hopes its guests relax and have fun on its fleet up to a point. PCBPD releases statement on spring break crowds - WJHG PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Spring break is just around the corner, and that means so are the spring break laws. Police Chief J.R. Talamantez warned visitors that the police will take swift action against individuals who come with ill intentions. "That's not just because we're scared of (those words). 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 . We have partnered with our local businesses to close their parking lots when their businesses are closed or to close their doors early if needed. Published: Mar. We've seen when somebody calls something a takeover what can happen. Police added, The following are some of the ordinances that will be strictly enforced: The PCB Police Department would also like to offer some general safety tips for your personal safety. You can have fun here without being involved in illegal activities. Panama City Beach, FL. #1 Best Value of 12 Spring Break Resorts in Panama City Beach. No metal shovels are allowed on the sandy beach, and digging holes deeper than two feet is prohibited. PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Panama City Beach is a popular destination spot for tourists and spring breakers. Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford said that 161 people were arrested and jailed over the weekend and that officers seized 75 guns. It may be hard to believe for some . In addition, the consumption of alcohol on the sand beach is prohibited at any time for the duration of March. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Funded by Bay Point Advisors, LLC, this brand-new Comfort . Panama City Beach Spring Break laws in effect - wjtv.com We encourage our residents to call our police dispatch if they need anything and to remember we are here as a city to protect everyone.. This is what they think our beach is. Operation Rogue Wave resulted in the arrest of 21men on various charges, with three other suspects still being sought on charges of transmitting harmful material to a child and solicitation of a child for sexual activity. 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. 22, 2022 at 8:59 PM PDT. Marshals Service. They face a variety of charges, including inciting a riot, felony criminal mischief, disorderly conductand theft during a riot-related disturbance. "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.". 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). Our local law enforcement did the best they could, giving the hand they were dealt and I, for one, commend them for doing so.". 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 Best Spring Break Trip Locations for 2023. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 0:04. Market data provided by Factset. 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 . "We could have had multiple homicides and we could have ended up in national news with officer-involved shootings," he said. "That's what this (was). 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. Fox News Flash top headlines for March 27, prompting police to descend upon the area. General, Fire & Police Pension Boards Meeting. Crockett said in her 16 years of living in the area, this is one of the most dangerous spring breaks she's seen. "One of the preparations that we did is we spoke to a business owner and local community about the certain act that he wants to bring to town," Talamantez said. MONTGOMERY Kenneth Glasgow, a Dothan pastor and founder of the Christian-based nonprofit The Ordinary People Society, pleaded guilty Friday . Chief Talamantez wants visitors to have a good time but also abide by the following restrictions: Climbing, jumping off, or throwing anything from balconies is illegal. 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. PCB Mayor: Same criminals behind Miami spring break crime - Fox News We were seeing (them) with rifles in backpacks.". According to police, the event resulted in. Among those arrested in 2022 were 15 people involved with a riot at a PCB Walmart officials said was instigated by social media influencers. A Dothan man has been arrested and charged with one count of rape. "We saw a 15.6% increase in March of . 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. George Santos Under Scrutiny CBS News App Legal Statement. Rogue Wave was amulti-agency operation involvingthe 14th Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office, the Bay County Sheriff's Office, the Panama City Police Department, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the U.S. Crowds remained on the sidewalks, while vehicular traffic was also heavy, he reportedly said. It's not just residents who are concerned. Those huge crowds caused roads to be shut down in Panama City Beach. Hooker said she had to lock her gift shop'sdoors to keep everyone out. Panama City Beach Limits Spring Break Gatherings On Sand All the suspects are from Alabama and range in age from 17 to 37. Period," Talamantez said. PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (AP) Authorities in Panama City Beach said 75 guns were seized and 161 people were arrested during a rowdy Spring Break weekend. All rights reserved. "We prevented this specific group, these specific influencers from hosting these events in Panama City Beach,"Talamantez 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.". . "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.". Officers have closed down portions of the road near the intersection of Front Beach Road and Hutchison Boulevard by Walmart and are detouring traffic at this time. 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. In the adjoiningrestaurant, she said workers were having an even harder time. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. As beach safety director for Panama. 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. You have permission to edit this article. Panama City Beach sets spring break rules amid COVID-19 pandemic - WTVM The consumption or possession of alcohol is not allowed on the sandy beach during the month of March. 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. "They're coming from the regional area. Use the buddy system and never leave your friends. PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Panama City Beach is a popular destination spot for tourists and spring breakers. "And then they say it's not spring breakers,it's the 'hundred milers.' The city had a dangerous weekend with. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. PANAMA CITY BEACH A portion of the beach will once again be closed overnight this spring. Spring breakers play beach games at Panama City Beach. Answer Man: Is it illegal to take pictures of people without their permission? "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. On Sunday afternoon, a 21-year-old from Alabama was shot in the foot and sustained non-life-threatening injuries. 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. "Well , my husband scheduled several trips to new properties Bluegreen has purchased. 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. College students gather in Panama City Beach, FL during spring break in March 2020. Spring Break ordinances are in effect. 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.. Local officials said the city was targeted by a group of lawbreakers. Panama City Beach is vacation destination, especially among people in the Southern United States.. "I felt unsafe in a place that I have called home for many years and that is a horrible feeling. Stephanie Pagones is a Digital Reporter for FOX Business and Fox News. Is our economy doing better or worse? Spring break chaos: Panama City Beach businesses close due to crime Chief Smith says for those looking to come here for spring break, come and have fun but dont break the law. By Katie Bente. Panama City Beach Spring Break laws in effect - YouTube "Honestly, I was blown away. 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. What's New in Panama City Beach in 2023? | TravelPulse "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 material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Spring Break Panama City Beach - Your 2023 In-Depth Guide PANAMA CITY BEACH Fla. (WMBB) Spring breakers are in Panama City Beach and even with a pandemic, this year is no different. This zero-tolerance policy includes a ban on underage drinking, traffic disruption, loud music, and pop-up parties in businesses or empty lots. Panama City Spring Break: Is It Worth It? - TheTravel Its all in an effort to keep the community safe. The company is informing customers ahead of spring break that unruly passengers could be hit with a $500 fine . Editor's note: The location of Sunday's shooting has been updated to more accurately pinpoint where it occurred. Ive seen the police break them up a few times, Bruyn said. 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. She's seen some calm spring breaks and some crazy ones. "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. Panama City Beach expected a large crowd this weekend. Riding on the exterior of vehicles, including sitting on the edge of window sills and standing up through the sun roof, is strictly prohibited. Enter dates to see prices. Local bars and nightclubs working with law enforcement for Spring Break "I never expected this. Alabama 'criminals' went to 'create havoc' at Panama City Beach, mayor Panama City Beach's spring break rules go into effect Legal Statement. Local law enforcement officials announced Monday that they confiscated 75 illegal guns and arrested more than 160people throughout the weekend. Talamantez noted that once his department learned about the "Panamaniac take over event," officers began warning local business owners. Ive seen the police presence, and Ive seen the people scatter.. 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 . We had a plan in place due to a large number of visitors over the weekend. "I've been here when Spring Break was a bunch of good college kids (who) got a little crazy, but there weren't any guns and there wasn't any violence, and then we had those several bad years (where there was) that real bad element of people coming here who weren't spring breakers, but people looking to prey on spring breakers," he said. Any holes dug should be properly filled in for the safety of all. PANAMA CITY BEACH Sariah Hooker has lived in Panama City Beach for 12 years. Planning Board Meeting- Cancelled. 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. For new residents, like Orlando-native Khalil Campbell, spring break was something they knew they would experience when moving to the area. The city and Bay County have had special ordinances in place for Spring Break since 2016. Panama City Beach Police Department officials held a press conference Wednesday morning to unveil the arrests from Operation Rollback and Operation Rogue Wave. City of Panama City Beach, FL | Home How crime in Panama City Beach signaled the end of Spring Break "Our staff had to continue to accommodate them in the middle of all this destructive behavior, so their safety was put at risk.". "We went ahead and fed the people who were already in the restaurant, and then we started calling everybody who had later reservations and told them we (needed) to close for safety concerns,"Trepanier said.