A large number of Arizonans took part in a chaotic Fourth of July celebration that reportedly devolved into blocking roadways and throwing fireworks at police in a California beach city.
The city of Newport Beach said police arrested 402 people from midnight on July 3 through 6 a.m. on July 5 — including people who refused dispersal orders.
The city's police declared an unlawful assembly, citing “large unruly crowds” near 26th Street and the beach just before 8:30 p.m. on July 4.
Nearly half of the people who were apprehended during the incident were from Arizona, The Orange County Register reported on July 7, citing data from police. Of those arrested or cited during the July Fourth chaos, 161 were from California, and 145 were from Arizona, the newspaper reported. The data showed 11 Arizonans were arrested and 134 were cited.
People are also reading…
More than 350 officers worked to clear the Newport Beach area after a Fourth of July beach party turned chaotic. Hundreds of people were arrested, including about 145 were from Arizona, the Orange County Register reported.
According to the city, Fourth of July celebrations drew tens of thousands of residents and visitors. However, social media posts drew a “large influx of juveniles and young adults to the Newport Pier area within a short period of time," the city said in a news release.
“As the crowd rapidly grew, individuals engaged in increasingly dangerous and unlawful behavior,” including by “blocking roadways, restricting emergency vehicle access and throwing explosive mortars, fireworks and other projectiles at police officers,” the city said.
Joe DeJulio, president of the Newport Beach Police Association, posted a statement online praising officers who acted with "courage, professionalism and excellence."
“Yesterday, as our nation celebrated its semi-quincentennial with families and neighbors gathering peacefully, joyfully, and safely...a large group of agitators invaded Newport Beach, spurred on by an alleged ‘TikTok Takeover.’ These persons came to our city with the intent on causing harm, injury, and destruction, bringing harassment, disturbances, and mayhem,” DeJulio said.
