FIREWORKS provide a background for “teen-takeover” of Balboa Peninsula area in Newport Beach (NBPD photo).

A “teen take-over” of the Balboa peninsula in Newport Beach resulted in the arrest of over 400 mostly young people last week.

Could the same thing happen in neighboring Huntington Beach?

A flyer posted on social media such as TikTok and Instagram has called for a similar “take-over” of Surf City on Saturday, Aug. 1. A copycat prank or not, the HBPD has declared it is ready to cope with it.

In a Facebook post, the HBPD revealed that its Special Investigations Bureau had “already identified individuals believed to be involved in organizing and promoting this event, and those investigations are ongoing.”

It notes that anyone who “incites violence, vandalism, theft, etc.” could be prosecuted and both minors and their parents can be held liable for damages.

Newport Beach officials estimated that the crowds were “in the thousands” and that nearly half of those arrested were from Arizona.

According to Newport police, “as the crowd quickly grew … dangerous and unlawful behavior escalated, blocking roadways, preventing emergency access and putting families, visitors and first responders at risk.”

Over 350 law enforcement officer from several agencies were employed to control the situation and several were injured.
‘As the crowd quickly grew … dangerous and unlawful behavior escalated, blocking roadways, preventing emergency access and putting families, visitors and first responders at risk.”