Police Dispatches Trigger Chaos as Newport Beach Fourth of July Crowd Lights Fireworks, Fights, Arrests

A Fourth of July celebration on the Newport Peninsula in Newport Beach turned violent after police were dispatched around 7 p.m. Saturday to reports of large crowds lighting fireworks and fighting.

“Newport Beach July 4th celebration turns chaotic as fights break out, fireworks thrown at officers”

ABC

By 8:25 p.m., Newport Notified said an unlawful assembly was declared in the area of 26th Street and the beach, and residents were asked to shelter in place until further notice.

ABC

The unrest included officers on horseback charging into a crowd on the beach, while some people were seen throwing punches at other partygoers.

The Los Angeles Times said the Newport Beach Peninsula devolved into chaos with illegal fireworks, street fights, looting and more than 400 mostly young people arrested within 36 hours, and it described a “Not in Newport” zero-tolerance crackdown that tripled fines in designated safety zones.

CBS News later said beach and pier areas were cleared at 7:30 p.m. as fights became unruly, and that more than 400 people were arrested across 36 hours.

Newport Beach Police officers were injured during the unrest, and ABC said the officers were expected to recover while police had not released a final arrest count but officials said at least 100 people were taken into custody.

The Independent reported that videos showed officers on horseback charging on the beach to break up the unruly crowd, and it said partiers threw fireworks at police officers as the disorder continued after authorities arrived.

CBS News

In a statement carried by MyNewsLA, ABC7 reported police arrested at least 100 people, while the Los Angeles Times said more than 400 arrests occurred within 36 hours.

Newport Beach Mayor Lauren Kleiman told CBS LA that activity ramped up around 9 p.m. and that outside law enforcement agencies stepped in to assist the Newport Beach Police Department.

The Newport Beach Police Association blamed a post on social media for getting the mayhem started, posting on Facebook that a “TikTok Takeover” spurred agitators to invade Newport Beach with the intent on causing harm, injury, and destruction.

City officials enforced a “Not in Newport” zero-tolerance crackdown, with the Los Angeles Times saying fines were tripled in designated safety zones and threatening one-strike permit revocations for short-term rentals tied to unruly holiday crowds.

The Los Angeles Times said fines for such infractions in West Newport Beach and the Peninsula—dubbed safety enhancement zones—will be tripled through July 6, and it described a one-strike revocation rule for short-term lodging permit holders whose tenants violate public safety laws during the safety enhancement periods.

CBS News said a police skirmish line formed and attendees were instructed to return home, while aerial images showed the crowd around 10:20 p.m. with at least one person being loaded into an ambulance with unknown injuries.

County News Service reported that officers responded to the 3100 block of West Balboa Boulevard after revelers began stealing items and hurling them at the front of the store, and that police issued a “999” prompting at least a hundred officers from surrounding agencies to converge on the location.

The incident remains under investigation, with ABC saying it remains under investigation and KABC reporting the same.