A chaotic house party erupted in a high-end San Diego neighborhood on Saturday evening, prompting a swift response from sheriff’s deputies as the festivities spiraled beyond control, attracting hundreds of young party-goers to the vicinity.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office dispatched deputies to an El Apajo Road residence in Rancho Santa Fe shortly after 8 p.m., following alerts about a raucous event that significantly disrupted the usually serene community.
The gathering drew a crowd described primarily as “kids” by the deputies, according to NBC San Diego. It is still uncertain if any of the attendees were above 18 years old.
Social media videos surfaced, showing throngs of people swarming the neighborhood, with police cars lining the streets in response.
Initial online chatter suggested the celebration took place within a nearby unoccupied $16 million luxury mansion that was up for sale. However, the property’s realtor clarified to NBC 7 that the event was not held there but was instead organized by a neighboring tenant.
As the party escalated, fireworks were reportedly set off, prompting authorities to intensify their response. Reinforcements from the California Highway Patrol and the San Diego Police Department were called in to manage the situation.
It ultimately took about two hours from the first call for deputies to disperse the crowd and clear the scene.
Police say they’re increasingly tracking the social media accounts used to promote these underground parties. A digital flyer promoting the event had reportedly been shared across social media beforehand.
The ad hyped the party with a cover charge, boasting “hundreds expected,” and “strict security.”
“We do have detectives that are monitoring social media, especially when we know that there’s one social media page that’s putting out all the parties then we can follow that,” said Lt. Cesar Jimenez of the San Diego Police Department. “The issue is that they change handles a lot.”
