More than 400 people were arrested in Newport Beach after Fourth of July festivities spiraled into disorder, with officials later citing an alleged social media-driven “TikTok Takeover” as a factor behind the unrest.
Authorities said many of those detained were youths and minors, taken into custody during a 36-hour stretch after officers were called to the Newport Peninsula around 7 p.m. Saturday amid reports of large crowds, fights and illegal fireworks.
Videos from the scene showed aerial fireworks detonating dangerously close to crowds as people ran for cover. In another clip, a person appeared to throw fireworks into a densely packed group.
Additional footage captured someone wearing a Spider-Man mask climbing onto a traffic signal and prompting the crowd to chant, “USA, USA, USA.”
Other videos appeared to show people carrying damaged street signs and looting a Pavilions grocery store on West Balboa Boulevard. Police on horseback were also seen moving toward revelers gathered on the beach.
Emily Alcala, an 18-year-old who had traveled from Las Vegas and was staying with relatives in the area, said the scene quickly became alarming.
“It’s very unsafe to have fireworks popped in the middle of crowds,” Alcala told the LA Times. “There was a firework to your left, [then] you run to your right and there was a firework [there]. It was very chaotic. There was no way that you could go that was safe at all.”
Before the holiday weekend, Newport Beach officials had launched a “Not in Newport” campaign, warning visitors that public intoxication, illegal fireworks and other disruptive conduct would not be tolerated.
Fines for violations committed in designated safety enhancement zones across West Newport Beach and the Peninsula were tripled through July 6.
Mayor Lauren Kleiman said the city has long experienced an influx of young visitors over the Fourth of July weekend, but believes social media has intensified the problem.
He said: “We always have an influx of visitors to the city for the Fourth of July. It’s been like that for many years, and there’s always kind of a big youth movement that has kind of ebbed and flowed.
“The last couple of years we’ve definitely seen an uptick, in particular kids from out of state. [It’s] not atypical, but I think that social media has really changed things.”
The city also adopted a one-strike policy allowing officials to revoke short-term rental permits if guests violate public safety laws during the holiday enforcement period.
Kleiman explained some adults rent homes for groups of young people without staying behind to supervise them.
Many of those arrested were minors or from outside Newport Beach. One officer also suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a mortar-style firework was thrown at him.
“ We’re still processing everything. Come Monday morning, we will all sit down and debrief about what we can do better for next year,” added Kleiman.
In a statement posted to Instagram, the Newport Beach Police Association applauded officers for their response, alleging that a “TikTok Takeover” had drawn agitators to the city.
“A large group of agitators invaded Newport Beach, spurred on by an alleged ‘TikTok Takeover,’” the association wrote in the Instagram post.
“These persons came to our city with the intent on causing harm, injury, and destruction, bringing harassment, disturbances, and mayhem.”
The association also said officers were at times outnumbered by as much as 500 to 1, praising their “courage, professionalism, and excellence” in restoring order and protecting the public during the holiday crowds.
