July Fourth chaos erupted over the weekend on the West Coast as a massive teen takeover event in Newport Beach, California, descended into mayhem.
More than 400 teens and young people were arrested during the incident, which saw crowds of thousands flood the Balboa Peninsula neighborhood, blocking roadways, and causing damage to local businesses.
According to police, the event began on Friday, July 3, and continued through Sunday, July 5, resulting in 402 arrests and 102 emergency responses, including 10 fires.
The City of Newport Beach took to social media to address the situation, stating that social media posts drew a large influx of juveniles and young adults to the Newport Pier area, leading to dangerous and unlawful behavior that blocked roadways and put families, visitors, and first responders at risk.
Damage was reported at a local Pavilions grocery store, with videos showing smashed produce and trash strewn around the parking lot.
The company that owns the store, Albertsons, confirmed that the safety and well-being of customers and associates was their top priority and that the interior of the store remained secure during the incident.
The store reopened the following morning and is operating as normal, with some exterior product displays damaged but no physical damage to the store itself.
The president of the Newport Beach Police Association described the event as a "TikTok Takeover," where a large group of agitators invaded the city with the intent to cause harm, injury, and destruction.
A spokesperson for the platform confirmed that any content promoting theft, property damage, criminal activity, or dangerous behaviors is in violation of the app's Community Guidelines.
