Whether they’re being planned in Jacksonville, Orange Park, the Beaches or anywhere else for that matter, “teen takeover” events are causing angst in communities everywhere.
The latest took place March 18 as a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office task force shut down a gathering of about 200 teens at Blue Cypress Park on University Boulevard after fights broke out. Several dispersed to a nearby apartment complex where there were reports of shots fired but no evidence anyone was injured.
The Sheriff’s Office said it arrested three girls for their roles in the fights. The incident report lists three suspects and three victims, all 12- and 13-year-old girls.
“We are constantly monitoring events like this, allowing our officers to be extremely prepared for any violence that occurred,” the Sheriff’s Office said. “Our District 2 Patrol officers even held roll call at the park to increase their presence there. But parents and caregivers, enough is enough. Please be aware and alert about what your teen is up to. Help us cut down on these takeovers by monitoring how your teen is spending their time and who they’re with. Please do not drop them off to locations without knowing why they’re there.”
In some cities like Chicago and Atlanta where similar takeovers have caused concern, there’s been a call to hold parents liable for their children. Under a proposed ordinance in Chicago, if a child is involved in a teen takeover and is committing a criminal act, their parent or legal guardian could face a $1,000 fine, community service and court-mandated family and parental counseling.
Teens, and even some parents, say they just want to have fun and places to hang out. But the organized gatherings are often becoming disruptive and worriesome to residents, businesses and law enforcement. Some have resulted in shootings, including five people wounded in a Jacksonville Beach takeover on Feb. 21.
“Our department has taken a proactive and aggressive approach to preparing for these gatherings, but incidents like these remain a national challenge,” Jacksonville Beach Police Chief Gene Paul Smith posted on Facebook on March 6 ahead of another planned takeover. “Despite this systematic, innovative and aggressive approach to enforcement, we cannot guarantee (nor any other agency) that a violent incident will not occur. That is why takeovers are a national problem. The shooting on February 21st is an example of how unpredictable these situations can be. We had six to eight officers and two marked cars within 50 feet when the shooting started. We could have had 200 officers out that night and it still would have made no difference.”
What is a teen takeover?
A “teen takeover” is a planned gathering of young people in public places such as malls, beaches and parks. They are social media-driven with organizers posting flyers on Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and group chats. With crowds in the hundreds, they quickly overwhelm an area and cause chaos, fighting and viral content for social media.
Is a teen takeover different from a street takeover?
Yes, under Florida law, a “street takeover” refers to the act of seizing part of a highway, roadway or parking lot by obstructing normal traffic flow to perform stunts such as racing, drag racing, burnouts, doughnuts, drifting or wheelies.
“Section 316.191, Florida Statutes outlaws racing on streets and highways, street takeovers and stunt driving, as so defined in the statute,” according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Jacksonville Beach Police Department, teen takeovers aren’t something new. “We have been experiencing these for years, but now there is an official name for it,” Smith previously said. “A few weeks ago, it was occurring at the Orange Park Mall, this week it was at Friendship Fountain in downtown Jacksonville, and these events are regularly occurring throughout the country,” and “… often escalate to violence and property destruction.”
What happened in other teen takeovers?
The worst one locally took place on Feb. 21 in Jacksonville Beach, despite police being aware of it, posting warnings about such unpermitted events and having a large law enforcement presence.
What started out as a relatively small crowd of about 130 people eventually turned ugly not far from the Community First SeaWalk Music Festival at the SeaWalk Pavilion.
“Literally we stayed with them at the pier for three hours, and it was a non-event,” Smith later said in a summary of the night. “Just as the last rays of light went down over the horizon, the fights started.”
Gunfire erupted, and four juveniles and one adult were injured. It appeared to be more than one shooter. The chief said they found three guns discarded in the area and a fourth on a person who was detained close by. They also took two guns off two others earlier in the day. No arrests have been reported though.
The Jacksonville Beach shooting happened one week after gunfire scattered an estimated “100 to 300” teens outside The Avenues mall on Jacksonville’s Southside. No injuries were reported in that Feb. 14 takeover. Smith said the event organizers appear to be linked.
During another on July 26, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office also had issued warnings to the events’ organizer and parents advising against such a gathering without obtaining a city permit. Officers ended up dispersing a crowd of about 600 to 700 juveniles on the city’s Southbank near Friendship Fountain, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
“Some individuals were engaged in problematic behavior, including drug use, fighting and pepper-spraying each other,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
Earlier that same month on July 5, reports of disturbances by unruly youths at the Orange Park Mall sparked a massive presence by Clay County sheriff’s deputies and sent hundreds running. And similarly the Sheriff’s Office had warned on Facebook that morning stating it would be out in force after learning that a “big reunion was planned” at the mall.
That also led to changes in security and policies at the mall that went into effect Oct. 17. Under new ownership, the Orange Park Mall is now partnering with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office to require youth to be accompanied by an adult on Fridays and Saturdays.
“With support from county leaders, tenants and community representatives, the new policy requires guests under the age of 18 to be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is at least 21 years old on Fridays and Saturdays, with each guardian accompanying no more than four minors,” according to the mall’s new Youth Supervision Policy.
What are law enforcement agencies doing about teen takeovers?
As stated in the above incidents, the sheriff’s offices and police department are monitoring social media and were aware of these events. They continue to post warnings and advise they will be present to try to maintain order and zero tolerance.
Ahead of a recent takeover event planned near the Jacksonville Beach Pier, the police and supporting agencies were ready.
“As we have done in recent weeks, our department has been actively monitoring this event well in advance,” the Police Department stated online. “Officers have gathered intelligence regarding the date, time, location, expected attendance and other conditions to prepare an appropriate response. To ensure public safety, we will deploy dozens of additional officers this weekend. In addition to the 70-plus Jacksonville Beach police officers already working Saturday and Sunday, we will again be supported by partner agencies including the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, Neptune Beach Police Department and Atlantic Beach Police Department.”
Efforts also became more pronounced following the quadruple shooting, with one dead, during a beach takeover event around the same time two years ago with no arrests reported.
Ahead of Jacksonville Beach police’s Spring Surge 2025, Smith outlined the magnitude of it:
“The critical incidents of St. Patrick’s Day 2024 stand out as a turning point for the Police Department and the city. Almost a year later, we stand fully staffed, hiring approximately a dozen experienced, quality officers. We received four additional sworn positions and additional equipment we requested. We have only a few officers on light duty and should have almost all new officers out of training by spring. This is a first for me, and I am in awe of what this city and this department have accomplished in just 11 months.”
He said for the Feb. 21 takeover enforcement plan, they used the same preparation and processes for 2025 that prevented at least five takeovers from gaining any traction.
Those goals were:
The chief also outlined the department’s strategy. “Instead of just placing extra officers in the downtown area, we implemented a holistic or systematic approach to our efforts and are listed below.”
JBPD’s strategy
What is a Special Events application?
In Jacksonville, a Special Event Permit is required for gatherings of 50 or more people or when activities such as alcohol service, animals, athletic events, or other regulated elements are involved. Applicants must submit a completed form to the Parks & Recreation Department, along with a non-refundable fee, at least 90 days, but no more than 365 days, before the event. The Event Committee will review the application, and additional permits or documentation may be requested as part of the approval process.
(This story has been updated with the ages of the girls arrested and the victims.)
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Another ‘teen takeover,’ what can be done about disruptive trend
Reporting by Scott Butler, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
