JACKSONVILLE, FL – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) has announced the results of recent efforts to combat “teen takeovers,” large gatherings of juveniles organized through social media that have led to fights, vandalism, and other illegal activities. The operations resulted in a total of nine arrests and the recovery of six firearms.
On July 26, officers at Friendship Fountain intervened in several fights and prevented a potential shooting. After a short chase, officers arrested a suspect who was seen reaching into his backpack. Inside the backpack, they found a pistol and marijuana.
Following social media posts advertising a “Fight Fest” planned for August 2, the JSO monitored the situation and deployed a task force. On August 2, officers tracked groups to several locations, where they found teens trespassing, drinking alcohol, and using marijuana. During one incident, officers observed a juvenile passing two guns to individuals in another vehicle. They arrested him and found drugs in his backpack.
The total results of the operations were:
- Misdemeanor Arrests: 2
- Felony Arrests: 7
- Notices to Appear: 1
- Guns Recovered: 6
- Marijuana Seized: 90 grams
Sheriff Waters stated that the JSO will continue to monitor and disrupt illegal activity associated with these gatherings. The department also thanked the public for providing information and encouraged residents to continue reporting concerns by calling 904-630-0500 or emailing jsocrimetips@jaxsheriff.org.
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