‘Teen takeover’ draws hundreds to Bradenton Riverwalk. What police are saying
Police are renewing warnings about the “teen takeover” trend after officers broke up a gathering of hundreds of young people along the Bradenton Riverwalk over the weekend.
About 250 to 300 young people gathered on Saturday night, prompting officers to temporarily close Rossi Park and the Bradenton Riverwalk Skate Park while they broke up the crowd, according to the Bradenton Police Department.
Police said they received information about a planned “teen takeover” ahead of the gathering and adjusted staffing and patrols.
Police say some members of the crowd then crossed busy roads and tried to gather near gas stations and other businesses. Bradenton police, with assistance from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, prevented the group from entering or overtaking businesses, according to police, who say the crowd dispersed without any serious incidents.
“We’ll say it again: the ‘teen takeover’ trend is not acceptable,” the police department said in a social media post. “We will not tolerate disruptions to businesses, parks, the Riverwalk, or traffic.”
‘Teen takeover’ broken up at Riverwalk
The gathering comes amid increased concern about so-called teen takeovers, large gatherings of young people typically organized through social media and held at beaches, parks and other public spaces.
Videos of the gatherings have spread across social media this summer. While some have remained peaceful, others have led to fights, arrests and even gun violence.
Bradenton police told the Bradenton Herald in June that the department had monitored reports of possible teen takeovers locally, but had not seen the kind of large-scale disruptions reported elsewhere in Florida.
“We want students to enjoy their summer break, but we will not tolerate reckless behavior, disturbances or activities that disrupt businesses, parks, the Riverwalk, roadways or the community,” police spokesperson Meredith Censullo said at the time.
Trend is ‘not acceptable,’ police say
Concerns about the trend intensified after a teenager was shot multiple times during a teen gathering on Clearwater Beach in May. Clearwater police arrested a 16-year-old Haines City boy on an attempted second-degree murder charge and said the shooting stemmed from an ongoing dispute between groups that knew each other.
Law enforcement agencies elsewhere in Florida have increased patrols or issued warnings over planned gatherings.
Bradenton police said Saturday’s gathering created “unnecessary safety risks for everyone involved” despite ending without a major incident.
“Parents: Please know where your teens are, know who they’re with, and talk with them about making good decisions,” the department said. “A night out with friends shouldn’t end with someone getting hurt — or worse.”
