Bay County law enforcement working to prevent takeover event slated for Father's Day

PANAMA CITY BEACH − Local law enforcement officials hope to curb a possible upcoming takeover event slated for the Beach.

According to Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford, deputies last week discovered flyers circulating on social media for a takeover event scheduled to occur in Panama City Beach on Father's Day weekend. He and Chief J.R. Talamantez of the Panama City Beach Police Department now are working to prevent the event from creating an uptick in crime across the area.

Not only have they reached out to those promoting the event, but they also have made media appearances in communities where the promoters are from. This includes Biloxi, Mississippi, and Montgomery, Alabama.

"We're still watching it closely, and we have had some of the promoters say that Panama is off for that weekend," Ford said. "Come and have a good time, but if you have an event, it's got to be planned and permitted. ... We have to make sure the appropriate resources are in place to control (any) event."

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He also said flyers for the possible June event appear to be similar to those of Panamaniac in 2022. Local law enforcement prevented a separate takeover event from happening on the Beach in March.

From March 26-27 of 2022, more than 160 people were arrested across Bay County in connection to Panamaniac, an unsanctioned event that gained traction on social media and brought waves of unruly tourists to the Panama City Beach area.

Those arrested over the two days racked up almost 260 combined charges, of which more than 70 involved drugs, 60 involved guns and 15 involved alcohol.

Ford said law enforcement will continue to monitor the possible June event. They also might enact special event zones as the weekend approaches to help control any possibly increases in crime. These are pre-established zones that allow for enhanced penalties for violations.

Such enhanced penalties include doubling traffic fines, enforcing occupancy limits on public or private properties and towing and impounding vehicles for up to 72 hours. Costs incurred by enforcing and working the zone also can be billed to promoters of unpermitted special events.

"If necessary," Ford said when asked about the possibility of special event zones. "We always monitor intelligence as closely as we can. ... We've got the ability to survey occupancy levels and look at how much reach something is getting on social media."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Bay law enforcement working to prevent Father's Day takeover event