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Teen 'Takeovers' Spread Nationwide as Police Move to Quell Flash Mobs

Police warn social-media meetups can quickly turn violent.

Overview

  • The trend, which drew hundreds to a Florida trampoline park Saturday, ended in eight juvenile trespass arrests after workers shut the facility.
  • During Spring Break, a Daytona Beach beach gathering sparked a panic when bottle pops were mistaken for shots, leading to 133 arrests and a temporary enforcement zone on the sand.
  • Chicago police imposed a curfew in the Loop after dispersing a teen swarm, charging seven with reckless conduct and a 16-year-old with three felony counts of aggravated assault of officers.
  • In Virginia, a mall in Henrico County closed early during a large fight, and Chesterfield police publicized a show of force that they say deterred a planned parking-lot meetup.
  • Officers say Instagram flyers and viral clips help events snowball, and a Washington prosecutor cited robberies and gunfire at Navy Yard in urging tougher accountability.