Over the weekend, an unruly group of teenagers descended upon the Navy Yard waterfront in Washington, D.C., marking the latest occurrence of “viral takeovers” that have been posing challenges for city officials.
D.C. activist Elissa De Souza shared a video on the social media platform X, capturing the chaotic scene of a large crowd occupying a bustling intersection in the Navy Yard neighborhood on Sunday.
De Souza expressed her concerns, writing, “An evening that should have been an enjoyable outing in Navy Yard turned into a scenario we’re witnessing far too frequently. This isn’t an isolated incident—it’s a recurring pattern, and it’s happening increasingly late into the night. Residents and visitors deserve the opportunity to appreciate a lovely day, support emerging businesses, and enjoy a meal in peace, without fears for their safety or any disturbances.”
This event unfolded during a weekend in which the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) had established a temporary juvenile curfew zone within the Navy Yard area.
WATCH: Swarm of teens floods DC streets in ‘takeover’
From Friday to Sunday, the curfew policy prohibited anyone under the age of 18 from gathering in groups larger than nine within the designated zone during evening hours, unless exceptions were granted.
According to MPD, the curfew zone was in effect from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. each night. Police maintained an increased presence in Navy Yard and other areas where similar gatherings have previously occurred, they said.
Hundreds of juveniles swarmed the Navy Yard neighborhood in Washington, D.C., in a previous takeover, prompting a large police response and alarming residents in the busy waterfront district. (Elissa De Souza/Unknown)
Authorities said that while some groups briefly engaged in disorderly behavior Saturday night, they dispersed without incident. No criminal offenses were reported in the curfew zone over the weekend, and no arrests were made by MPD in connection with the gatherings.
However, Metro Transit Police made four arrests at the nearby Waterfront Metro station outside the curfew zone. Details about the four arrests were not immediately available.
On Sunday night, officers recorded six curfew violations within the Navy Yard area, police said.
“MPD is committed to doing everything possible to keep D.C. residents and visitors safe, and that includes supporting spaces to enable youth to gather to enjoy our city,” Interim Chief of Police Jeffrey W. Carroll said in a statement.
The Washington Metropolitan Police Department shared this photo on Jan. 22 showing police presence by the U.S. Capitol two days after the inauguration. (Washington Metropolitan Police Dept.)
A citywide juvenile curfew remains in effect daily from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., and officials are urging parents and guardians to monitor their children’s whereabouts as spring break continues.
Such “teen takeovers” have been happening across the District. The incidents typically involve large gatherings of young people and disruptive behavior.
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