Huntington Beach authorities were preparing Saturday for an advertised “beach takeover” that comes on the heels of a Fourth of July gathering that turned violent in Newport Beach and led to hundreds of arrests.
Huntington Beach officials did not want to say the date of the planned takeover because they were wary of encouraging others to show up. But the city has a plan to increase staffing and be on guard throughout the city while coordinating with neighboring law enforcement agencies, city spokeswoman Jessica Cuchilla said.
The city’s police department posted on social media that it was aware of the event, adding that “similar events elsewhere have resulted in violence, vandalism, assaults, thefts, and other criminal activity. We have no intention of allowing that to happen here.”
“The HBPD Special Investigations Bureau have already identified individuals believed to be involved in organizing and promoting this event, and those investigations are ongoing,” according to the department. “Anyone who organizes, promotes, encourages, or participates in criminal activity associated with a takeover event may be arrested and prosecuted. Depending on the facts, charges may include Penal Code 404.6 (Incitement to Riot), along with vandalism, theft, assault, reckless driving, unlawful assembly, conspiracy, and other applicable offenses.”
Meanwhile, Newport Beach City Council members are planning an upcoming discussion about lessons learned and plans for the future regarding the Fourth of July unrest.
Newport Beach officials estimate more than 420,000 people visited the city’s beaches over the holiday weekend with the usual level of public safety activity.
But later in the evening on the Fourth of July, social media posts attracted a large group of teens and young adults to the Newport Pier, which ultimately led to the arrests of 439 people, most of whom were from out of state, officials said.
Newport Beach officials say numerous orders to disperse were given to the crowd and about 350 officers from the city and neighboring agencies converged on the beaches to restore order.
Of the 439 arrests made from July 3 throudh the morning of July 5, about 96% were from outside the city, including 35% from Arizona, 7% from Nevada and 51% from other California cities.
About 70% of those arrested were 18 to 25 years old and 20% were 13 to 17, officials said.
Newport Beach officials said in the same time period there were 194 incidents, including 143 medical requests. Medical calls jumped 30% compared with last year’s Fourth of July, officials said.
Lifeguards made 260 rescues, officials said.