Fort Lauderdale police made more than double the number of spring break-related arrests in March compared to last year.
Police say there were 18 arrests in the city from March 1 to 25, up from eight last year, which was the first time the city had been arrested after the Miami Beach “split” and northward up the Florida coast to Fort Lauder. This coincided with the influx of people who settled in the Dales. have a party
Fort Lauderdale Police Department Spokesperson Casey Leaning told Fox News Digital, “This year we have had a larger turnout than usual, which has resulted in isolated incidents such as disturbances and fights.” He spoke via email.
“Our law enforcement officers responded immediately and successfully dispersed the crowds involved in these incidents.”
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A local police officer patrols spring breakers enjoying a beach on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. College students flooded the city after Miami Beach announced it was “eliminating” spring break following last year’s deadly season. bring chaos to the area. (Julia Bonavita/Fox News Digital)
Two weekends ago coincided with St. Patrick’s Day festivities, making it the busiest weekend of the season. That’s typical.
This past weekend nearly wiped out South Beach and Florida’s coastal cities, which historically were a close second in terms of visitor numbers and criminal activity.
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Torrential rain and persistent winds battered the coast for more than 48 hours this weekend, prompting the National Weather Service to issue multiple flood warnings and tornado watches for the region.
weather Beaches were emptied Friday and Saturday, crowding tourists and locals into bars and restaurants where college games were shown on television.
The cloudy weather cleared by Sunday, giving way to sunny skies and high temperatures in the 70s, allowing spring breakers to enjoy a last-minute beach vacation before departing.
Spring breakers walk along Fort Lauderdale Beach on Saturday, March 23, 2024. College students flooded the city after Miami Beach announced it was “eliminating” spring break after last year’s season brought deadly disruption to the region. (Julia Bonavita/Fox News Digital)
Spring breakers enjoy the sun and sand at Fort Lauderdale Beach on Sunday, March 24, 2024. After Miami Beach announced it was “eliminating” spring break, the city was inundated with college students, as last year’s season brought deadly disruption to the region. . (Julia Bonavita/Fox News Digital)
Two spring breakers sunbathe on a Fort Lauderdale beach on Sunday, March 24, 2024. College students flooded the city after Miami Beach announced it was “eliminating” spring break after last year’s season brought deadly disruption to the region. (Julia Bonavita/Fox News Digital)
Breakdown of Fort Lauderdale arrests
Of the 18 spring break-related arrests so far this month, only three suspects were considered “spring breakers” as defined by Fort Lauderdale police.
Here’s the full breakdown: Suspects are in parentheses.
3/4 – 1 summons for disorderly conduct (spring breaker)
3/5 – 1 person arrested for disorderly conduct (Spring Breaker)
3/7 – 4 people arrested for drug-related crimes (local residents)
3/8 – Two people arrested for cell phone theft in downtown Miami (from Miami)
3/9 – One person arrested for cell phone theft downtown (not during spring break)
3/12 – 1 person arrested for 4 assaults on law enforcement officers (local)
3/16 – Two people arrested for obstruction and trespassing (local residents)
3/17 – 1 person arrested by FLPD police for drug-related crimes (local)
3/18 – 1 person arrested by FLPD Motor Vehicle Unit for traffic related crimes (local)
3/19 – 1 trespass notice (local)
3/20 – 1 person arrested by FLPD task force for traffic related crimes (local)
Local police officers patrol a local bar area as spring breakers enjoy the beach on Saturday, March 23, 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. After Miami Beach announced spring break was “ending,” college students flooded the city. Last year’s season brought deadly turmoil to the region. (Julia Bonavita/Fox News Digital)
A local police officer patrols spring breakers enjoying a beach on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. College students flooded the city after Miami Beach announced it was “eliminating” spring break following last year’s deadly season. bring chaos to the area. (Julia Bonavita/Fox News Digital)
Two spring breakers pose for a selfie while enjoying a bar on Fort Lauderdale Beach on Saturday, March 23, 2024. After Miami Beach announced it was “eliminating” spring break after last year’s season, the city was inundated with college students. It brings deadly chaos to the region. (Julia Bonavita/Fox News Digital)
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Last weekend’s mellow scene continued the trend of mellow soirees in most of Florida’s spring break hotspots.
Isolated incidents of violence occur along the 350-mile coast from Jacksonville to South Beach.
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Most notably, the violence included multiple shootings in Jacksonville’s downtown business district on St. Patrick’s Day that claimed one life and injured three others.
Days earlier this month, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office chased a brazen gunman through a crowd in New Smyrna Beach, a coastal city about 25 miles south of Daytona Beach.
A teenager points a gun at spring breakers on a crowded beach in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. (Volusia Sheriff’s Office)
A local police officer patrols spring breakers enjoying a beach on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. College students flooded the city after Miami Beach announced it was “eliminating” spring break following last year’s deadly season. bring chaos to the area. (Julia Bonavita/Fox News Digital)
A local police tent is seen on Fort Lauderdale Beach on Sunday, March 24, 2024. After last year’s season brought deadly disruption to the area, college students flooded into the city after Miami Beach announced it was “eliminating” spring break. (Julia Bonavita/Fox News Digital)
Law enforcement in Miami Beach, a typical spring break-related crime hub, had arrested 250 people by the end of St. Patrick’s Day weekend.
Mayor Stephen Miner told Fox News Digital that this is “a reasonable number (of arrests) given the number of law enforcement officers.”
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It was “the calmest spring break I’ve had in years,” he said.
And more importantly, crime did not escalate to the same level as last year’s stampede and two murders.
A group of spring breakers pose for photos while enjoying Fort Lauderdale Beach on Sunday, March 24, 2024. College students flooded the city after Miami Beach announced it was “eliminating” spring break after last year’s season was so disrupted. To the region. (Julia Bonavita/Fox News Digital)
Spring breakers enjoy the sun and sand at Fort Lauderdale Beach on Sunday, March 24, 2024. After Miami Beach announced the “elimination” of spring break, the city was flooded with college students, as last year’s season brought deadly disruption to the region. . (Julia Bonavita/Fox News Digital)
Spring breakers walk along Fort Lauderdale Beach on Saturday, March 23, 2024. College students flooded the city after Miami Beach announced it was “eliminating” spring break after last year’s season brought deadly disruption to the region. (Julia Bonavita/Fox News Digital)
Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a press conference in early March that even before vacationers hit the beaches, more than 140 state troopers were deployed across the state, along with state resources such as license plate readers and drones. said.
“This is truly unprecedented,” DeSantis said at a March 5 press conference. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a state so proactive going into a season like this.
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“All things considered, I think we’re on track and ready to go, as we’ve always been at Florida State,” he said.
As March draws to a close and beach festivities wind down, the state’s action appears to reverse a history of spring break disruptions, especially in South Beach.
