TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Twenty-two people from the ages of 12 to 21 were arrested Friday night at Curtis Hixon Park in downtown Tampa following a “teen takeover” event, according to the Tampa Police Department.
“This takeover put the community, the visitors, the residents and our police officers in harm’s way. This is unacceptable,” said Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw.
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Those arrested were taken into custody for a wide variety of offenses, including affray (fighting), resisting arrest, gun possession and drug possession, according to police. Two firearms and a vehicle were also seized during police operations.
“Teen takeovers” are a growing social media trend where AI-generated images are created and shared via various platforms, encouraging young people to gather at a common location. Flyers have been spread with future events planned in places like Tampa, Sarasota, and St. Petersburg. Similar events have taken place in both Miami and Orlando, leading to arrests…