Florida spring break town done with college crowds: ‘That time is over’

A celebrated Florida outpouring break destination is vanished hosting hordes of assemblage students each year, according to nan town’s top law enforcement official. 

“Panama City Beach tin nary longer beryllium a Spring Break town,” Panama City Police Chief J.R. Talamantez said connected nan department’s Facebook page Sunday. “That clip is over. Every twelvemonth we effort to negociate it, and each twelvemonth it brings much challenges. I’m not consenting to consequence nan information of our metropolis to clasp onto thing that nary longer works.”

In nan coming weeks, Talamantez said, constabulary will person “serious discussions” pinch stakeholders successful metropolis activity roles “about nan early of nan Spring Break season.”

“And fto maine beryllium clear, our rule enforcement officers should not beryllium expected to enarthrosis nan load of an arena that nary longer aligns pinch nan values aliases imagination of this community,” he said. “It’s unfair to proceed placing that weight connected nan backs of nan men and women who service and protect this metropolis each day.”

In nan post, Talamantez thanked those who visited nan municipality and did not origin trouble.

“To nan early doctors, nurses, engineers, teachers, and leaders who came present for a break, you’re appreciated,” he said. “You made memories, enjoyed nan beach, and showed respect. Most of you went location without problems, and that’s precisely really it should be.”

He had stern words for troublemakers, though. 

“If you came pinch guns, bad intentions, and nary respect for this city, we saw you. You thought you could blend successful and get distant pinch it,” he said. “You were wrong. Our officers were ready, and galore of you ended up successful handcuffs.

“Some of you fired shots complete petty arguments and societal media drama. And erstwhile nan cuffs went on, nan reliable enactment disappeared. Our officers didn’t spot hardened criminals. They saw frightened kids crying successful nan question and reply room. TikTok doesn’t show that part, but our assemblage cameras do.”

The metropolis has agelong been a basking spot for assemblage students looking to drawback immoderate sun successful March and April, but besides for nan problem that comes on pinch thousands of visitors. 

For respective years, nan constabulary section has utilized various strategies to deter outpouring break crime. 

In 2023, police deployed K-9s to combat supplier use and leaned connected surveillance cameras successful an effort to support revelers nether control. 

In 2022, police arrested much than 160 people during a outpouring break incident erstwhile hundreds trashed a Walmart. They seized 75 guns from that lawsuit alone. 

“The crowd that has been present this weekend, location is nary words that tin picture nan measurement they person behaved themselves, conducted themselves, and nan magnitude of laws they person broken,” Talamantez said astatine nan time. 

That aforesaid year, outpouring breakers were truthful raucous police closed 2 miles of metropolis streets.

 Fox News Digital reached retired to nan Panama City Beach Police Department.