On Saturday night, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officers dispersed a crowd of approximately 600 to 700 juveniles near Friendship Fountain on the Southbank.
JSO had been monitoring planned “takeover” events circulating on social media, where organizers attempted to use multiple locations to avoid detection. Officers issued prior warnings to event organizers and their parents regarding the unpermitted nature of the gathering.
As the crowd grew larger, reports of fighting, drug use, and individuals pepper-spraying each other prompted officers to intervene. Friendship Fountain Park closes at 10:00 p.m., and the area was cleared for public safety.
During the dispersal, officers observed a juvenile reaching for his backpack before fleeing. He was quickly apprehended, and a firearm was recovered from his bag. The juvenile was arrested.
To prevent the group from regrouping elsewhere, officers blocked roads including access to the Main Street Bridge. Sirens were used to manage the large and unruly crowd.
JSO reminded the public that Jacksonville’s curfew law prohibits minors under 18 from being in public without a parent or guardian after 11:00 p.m. on weeknights and after 12:00 a.m. on weekends, unless engaged in a permitted activity.
Officers will continue to monitor and respond to similar unauthorized gatherings in an effort to maintain public safety.
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