A gathering of roughly 200 teenagers in Belmont Shore led to calls for service on Thursday night, June 11, with Long Beach police giving dispersal orders and curfew enforcement before detaining several youths who were involved in a fight and issuing five citations for curfew violations, authorities said.
The teenagers gathered near Ocean Boulevard and Bay Shore Avenue at some point in the afternoon or evening, with the first calls coming in just after 6:50 p.m., Long Beach police said in a statement.
Officers arrived and immediately began their attempts to disperse the group, police said.
“At one point, a fight broke out near Ocean Boulevard and Termino Avenue, leading to officers detaining several juveniles,” police said.
Some teens were still in the area at 9:45 p.m., leading officers to give numerous announcements regarding curfew enforcement, police said. Five teens were cited and “transported to their guardians,” police said.
“We encourage everyone to enjoy the permitted events taking place in our city. Our police officers have an exceptionally challenging and demanding job in which they remain dedicated to keeping everyone safe. When inappropriate activity occurs, our response will be prompt, direct, and focused,” said Wally Hebeish, Long Beach chief of police. “Large-scale disturbances like this deplete our resources and divert our officers from addressing other safety concerns in Long Beach, including emergency responses.”
The department plans to maintain an enhanced presence in the area throughout the weekend, Hebeish said.
Video from OnScene TV, a freelance news organization that sometimes works with the Southern California News Group, shows some teenage girls tussling among a larger group, with some appearing to scatter and run away as police arrive at the area. At least one teenage boy was seen sitting on the ground in handcuffs.
What led to the large gathering, or whether it had been previously organized, was not known.