A group of women twerk on Washington Avenue early Saturday night before the midnight curfew imposed by the City of Miami Beach, Fla., Saturday March 26, 2022. Miami Beach officials have spent recent years trying to control the raucous crowds, public drinking and growing violence associated with the city's world-famous South Beach neighborhood during spring break. (Pedro Portal/Miami Herald via AP)
The Associated Press
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Rowdy spring break crowds have forced curfews and led some establishments to close their doors from Miami Beach to Florida's Panhandle.
Law enforcement officials in Bay County, Florida, said Sunday that they won't tolerate the bad behavior from spring breakers after a 21-year-old from Alabama was shot in the foot Sunday during a shooting in Panama City Beach.
'ťThe crowd that has been here this weekend, there are no words that can describe the way they have behaved themselves, conducted themselves and the amount of laws they have broken,'ť Panama City Beach police Chief J.R. Talamantez said during a news conference on Sunday afternoon. 'œWe are doing the best to manage this situation.'ť
Police received word that the large crowd was out of control just before the shooting happened on Sunday afternoon. Three people were detained and officials said they could be charged with attempted murder.
Some 50 to 60 guns have been confiscated from spring breakers, according to Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford.
Some local nightclubs volunteered to close their doors on Sunday night, Panama City police Chief Mark Smith said.
'œThey are not catering to the spring break crowd," Smith said. 'œIt just can't be tolerated."
In South Florida, raucous crowds, public drinking and growing violence associated with the city's world-famous South Beach neighborhood led officials to impose a midnight curfew over the weekend. The action followed shootings that injured five people on South Beach last week.
The 10-block stretch of Ocean Drive known for art deco hotels, restaurants and bars lies between areas that cater to more affluent tourists, as well as locals. Many longtime residents have learned to treat spring break like a hurricane: Stay inside and hunker down until it's over.
When asked about a possible curfew in Panama City Beach, Talamantez said 'œnothing is off the table." He said officials are evaluating the situation.
'œI know the citizens are frustrated. Trust me, we are frustrated too," Talamantez said. 'œThe harsh reality is we cannot control who comes to town. But what we can control is what happens to you if you commit a crime in this town. We will hold you accountable."
Miami-Dade Police Department personnel are seen on Ocean Drive Saturday night before the midnight curfew imposed by the City of Miami Beach, Fla., Saturday March 26, 2022. Miami Beach officials have spent recent years trying to control the raucous crowds, public drinking and growing violence associated with the city's world-famous South Beach neighborhood during spring break. (Pedro Portal/Miami Herald via AP)
The Associated Press
Some of the restaurants and bars on Ocean Drive are closed before the midnight curfew imposed by the City of Miami Beach, Fla., Saturday March 26, 2022. Miami Beach officials have spent recent years trying to control the raucous crowds, public drinking and growing violence associated with the city's world-famous South Beach neighborhood during spring break. (Pedro Portal/Miami Herald via AP)
The Associated Press
Miami-Dade Police Department personnel are seen on Ocean Drive Saturday night before the midnight curfew imposed by the City of Miami Beach, Fla., Saturday March 26, 2022. Miami Beach officials have spent recent years trying to control the raucous crowds, public drinking and growing violence associated with the city's world-famous South Beach neighborhood during spring break. (Pedro Portal/Miami Herald via AP)
The Associated Press
A worker closes shop near Collins Avenue and 10th Street in Miami Beach, Fla., Friday, March 25, 2022. City officials imposed a midnight curfew and forced stores to stop selling alcohol after 6 p.m. The restrictions were set in place after two shootings in Miami Beach the weekend before caused city officials to announce a "state of emergency." (Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald via AP)
The Associated Press
A group of police officers gather on Ocean Drive and 8th Street in Miami Beach, Fla., Friday, March 25, 2022. City officials imposed a midnight curfew and forced stores to stop selling alcohol after 6 p.m. The restrictions were set in place after two shootings in Miami Beach the weekend before caused city officials to announce a "state of emergency." (Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald via AP)
The Associated Press