More than 400 people were arrested after a Fourth of July weekend gathering in Newport Beach, Calif., descended into chaos, prompting a massive law enforcement response involving 17 agencies and hundreds of officers, some of whom charged on horseback at citizens.
Hundreds arrested in Newport Beach
Authorities said thousands of people converged on the Balboa Peninsula, where the celebration quickly escalated into widespread disorder. Officials reported that explosive mortars were thrown, fights erupted throughout the area and at least one nearby supermarket was looted as officers worked to regain control of the crowd.
According to the City of Newport Beach, 402 people were taken into custody between midnight on July 3 and 6 a.m. on July 5. At approximately 8:30 p.m.on July 4, officials declared an unlawful assembly and urged residents in the area to shelter in place.
Around 350 Newport Beach police officers were joined by personnel from 17 regional law enforcement agencies. Videos shared on social media showed officers on horseback charging on the beach to break up the unruly crowd. The disorder didn’t stop when authorities arrived, and some of the partiers began throwing fireworks at police officers, according to reports…