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The Jacksonville Beach Police Department is cracking down on unauthorized gatherings, warning of immediate arrests.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The City of Jacksonville Beach Police Department patrolled Jacksonville Beach Friday afternoon to disperse large crowds.
Officers were seen driving up and down the beach and pier responding to unauthorized gatherings.
Video obtained by First Coast News showed one individual being slammed to the ground and handcuffed by officers.
Hundreds of teens from across the First Coast packed the beach, with some saying they were celebrating “Senior Skip Day.”
“We were just out here having fun, enjoying each other’s company,” one high school senior said.
Others said another event promoted online, marking the last day of spring break, contributed to the large turnout.
Earlier in the morning, Jacksonville Beach Police issued a warning on Facebook about unauthorized and unpermitted events. The department also emphasized its zero-tolerance policy, stating that attendees or organizers of such gatherings would face immediate arrest without warnings.
For some, Friday’s heavy police presence reminded them of last year’s spring break shootings at Jacksonville Beach, which left one person dead and three others injured.
High school seniors say that this shouldn’t be a reflection of them, and they don’t want to be associated with past violence.
“All these kids are good kids. They go to school, they’re getting ready to graduate, and they’re just having fun,” another student said.
As of Friday evening, it remains unclear how many arrests were made or if anyone was seriously injured. Jacksonville Beach Police have not yet responded to requests for additional information.