On Saturday night, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officers dispersed a crowd of approximately 600 to 700 juveniles near Friendship Fountain on the Southbank.
JSO had been monitoring planned “takeover” events circulating on social media, where organizers attempted to use multiple locations to avoid detection. Officers issued prior warnings to event organizers and their parents regarding the unpermitted nature of the gathering.
As the crowd grew larger, reports of fighting, drug use, and individuals pepper-spraying each other prompted officers to intervene. Friendship Fountain Park closes at 10:00 p.m., and the area was cleared for public safety…