Overview
- Nearly 400 people attended a Catholic Easter service at the Daytona Beach Bandshell, held Sunday steps from the stretch of sand roiled by recent spring-break unrest.
- Days earlier, an unsanctioned social media 'takeover' drew large crowds and led to more than 100 arrests, numerous medical calls, and weapons seizures.
- Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood put a party quarantine zone in place with doubled fines and strict limits on gathering sizes to curb disorder.
- He said his office sent cease-and-desist letters to online promoters and warned they could be billed for police, fire, EMS, and cleanup costs tied to unlawful events.
- Residents at the service praised the crackdown as restoring order and said tighter rules help keep the beach welcoming for families and visitors.