Buena Park police say they are aware of an “unsanctioned event” planned this weekend at Knott’s Berry Farm, adding to a growing list of agencies on alert after a Fourth of July teen “takeover” in Newport Beach that was promoted on TikTok ended with more than 400 arrests.
Authorities said they were in contact with park officials and would reinforce the police presence. It was one of several alerts issued by Southern California authorities in recent days.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Lakewood Station and the Huntington Beach Police Department issued similar alerts about social media-driven gatherings in those communities. Across the region, law enforcement officials are trying to scare away copycats of the Newport event for fear of possible theft, vandalism and violence.
In Newport Beach, a crowd of about 3,000 showed up last weekend, leading to fights and disturbances on several blocks of the Balboa Peninsula, police said. Fires were set, businesses were robbed and fireworks were launched at police and crowds, authorities said. Police made more than 400 arrests.
Buena Park police said they were identifying the organizers of the possible Knott's Berry Farm event and would “take appropriate enforcement action against anyone who engages in criminal or disruptive behavior.”
Knott's Berry Farm has had teen-related disruptions before. Fights between teenagers forced the park to close early in July 2022. Park policies state that, due to the “increasing incident of unruly and inappropriate behavior,” visitors under 16 years old must have someone over 21 years old with them during afternoon hours.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's station in Lakewood issued its warning on July 9. “We will not tolerate criminal activity disguised as celebration,” the department said. He warned that parents could be held financially responsible for damages caused by their children.
Huntington Beach police also warned on July 7 about an “end of summer beach party” promoted on social media. The department said it had already identified the organizers and promoters. Police said possible charges could include incitement to riot, vandalism, theft and assault.
In recent years, dozens of TikTok and Instagram promotions for “takeovers” of public spaces like parks, shopping malls, and beaches have materialized across the United States.
Police in Clearwater, Florida. They said they identified 11 such events this year. In Chicago, officers made 53 arrests at a Memorial Day weekend rally. In April, about 1,000 teenagers showed up at Orlando's ICON Park, an incident that led to nine arrests.
