'People could be trampled': US cities ramp up crackdown on 'teen takeovers' before July 4

WASHINGTON, DC: Police departments across the US are using social media monitoring, drones, and preemptive restrictions to stop “teen takeovers” from erupting as Americans prepare for July 4 celebrations.

Authorities are trying to break up large gatherings before fights or chaos begin. Former prosecutor Margaret McLean warned that “people could be trampled and severely hurt,” according to Fox News.

Police deploy drones to stop teen takeovers

The gatherings, often organized through social media, have caused chaos, violence, and injuries in several cities in recent months, according to a Breitbart report. Police officials are now seeking to prevent a repeat over the Fourth of July weekend.

In Falmouth, Massachusetts, authorities have reportedly increased staffing and are preparing to use drones as they move to stop large gatherings before they erupt into violence, the report said.

Greenville, North Carolina, has reportedly taken a different preemptive approach by imposing a temporary juvenile curfew. McLean told Fox that police are increasingly focused on prevention rather than waiting for gatherings to spiral out of control.

“It’s a big preventative measure that police are using,” she said. “They’re monitoring the social media… arresting some people for rioting.”

McLean said the threat of criminal consequences could also deter organizers before an event takes shape.

“If these organizers are worried that they may face criminal charges or they may get a criminal record or possibly even go to jail, they may step back and decide not to organize one of these events,” she said.

Police monitor social media for teen takeovers

Police in St Augustine, Florida, recently decided to use online intelligence to prevent a takeover, underscoring how authorities are monitoring the internet for warning signs before crowds gather.

The crackdown follows earlier warnings from law enforcement and local officials after takeovers broke out in neighborhoods, malls, parks, and restaurants. Videos posted online showed chaos in areas including Orlando, Chicago, and Myrtle Beach.

In Chicago, the issue also sparked a political divide after several aldermen sought to punish parents for failing to supervise their children in connection with teen takeovers, a move opposed by Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson, according to the report.

Margaret McLean warns teen takeovers can turn deadly

McLean said the gatherings are a law enforcement priority because sudden fights and crowd movement can put uninvolved people in immediate danger.

“What makes them so dangerous is fights can break out and somebody, some innocent bystander can get pushed down or hurt,” she told Fox.

She warned that even a fall in the middle of the chaos could prove fatal. “Or they can fall and hit their head and then die from a bad head wound,” McLean said.

The warning comes as cities adopt different preventive measures ahead of July 4, from increased staffing and drone deployments in Falmouth to a temporary juvenile curfew in Greenville and online intelligence monitoring in St Augustine.