BRADENTON, Fla. (WFLA) —Bars and restaurants across Bradenton are now required to have a permit to serve alcohol past midnight.
However, there’s another ordinance that’s under consideration that could tighten restrictions even more.
Officials are desperately trying to find new ways to curb the escalating tension when massive crowds settle into the downtown district on weekend nights.
Last month Bradenton Police Capt. Brian Thiers presented a series of concerning videos to the city council. The scenes were captured from several officer body cameras after late night brawls turned violent.
Most of the incidents took place shortly before bars and restaurants stopped serving alcohol around 2:30 a.m.
“This encompassed our entire police force from the city that evening to get this crowd under control,” said Capt. Brian Thiers. “While that was happening, the following calls were held – a harassment call, a domestic battery, a suspicious person with three suspects going through vehicles, an abandoned 911 call, another domestic battery.”