Was Georgia State Patrol called in to help with Orange Crush on Tybee?

The aftermath of the Orange Crush 2023 weekend has been a source of tension between residents, party-goers and Tybee Island officials. It's also been the source of confusion, rumors and conflicting claims concerning details of the event that caused chaos on the road to the barrier island.

As the events of Saturday continued into the night, social media rumors popped up on Twitter claiming incidents such as a fire on the Tybee beach pier, mandatory lockdowns and traffic fatalities, all of which were proven false.

In a Facebook post Saturday night, State Rep. Jesse Petrea also claimed that Gov. Brian Kemp personally ordered additional Georgia State Patrol troopers to Highway 80 to ensure traffic laws were obeyed. According to Petrea, GSP was not asked to assist Tybee in the event.

Tybee Island officials, however, disputed those claims. Mayor Shirley Sessions maintained that the city had requested GSP’s assistance ahead of the Orange Crush weekend.

GSP confirmed in a statement that state troopers were, indeed, called to assist on U.S. 80, the five-mile stretch of highway connecting Tybee Island and Savannah. However, officers were not called to assist with law enforcement services on the island, the GSP statement read.

Sessions told the Savannah Morning News that GSP wouldn’t be able to provide direct assistance on the island because resources were focused on a separate two-day operation in Savannah, which was conducted with the Savannah Police Department. The operation, which GSP called crime suppression, resulted in 55 arrests — 42 of which were DUIs — and the seizure of 16 guns and narcotics.

“We have documentation from our police chief that we asked for and received confirmation at one point,” said Sessions, “but there’s a letter that states that they would not be able to provide as much coverage because they were going to be in Savannah.”

The Savannah Morning News has requested a copy of Tybee Island's correspondence with the GSP under the Georgia Open Records Act.

Lt. Michael Burns, the public information director for Georgia State Patrol, made the following statement in email correspondence with the Savannah Morning News:

“DPS has historically provided assistance to the Tybee Island Police Department during Orange Crush weekend.  This past weekend, DPS was requested for traffic assistance on the Tybee Island Causeway. We provided troopers for that support.  We were not requested to assist with law enforcement services on Tybee Island.”

Over the course of the three-day beach celebration, the Chatham County Police Department saw a total of 21 car accidents, two of which were handled by GSP.

According to GSP’s Lt. Colonel Billy Hitchens, that Saturday evening, Gov. Brian Kemp’s office had contacted GSP after hearing of a shooting near Fort Pulaski, as well as other disturbances on the island.

“The governor had heard of some issues and asked us to check on it,” said Hitchens.

At that point, the Lieutenant sent a few officers staffing the Savannah operation to Tybee Island and Wilmington Island. They eventually arrived later at night.

The GSP identifies itself as an assist agency and typically offers its services to the originating jurisdiction’s law enforcement agencies.

Hitchens said that GSP will aid the Tybee Island Police Department (TIPD) directly on the island this weekend in anticipation of another unsanctioned event on the beach. Officials are treating the festival dubbed “Peach Fest” with an abundance of caution.

“We don't have the advantage of certainty on our side, but knowing what happened last weekend, we’re bringing in more state troopers and more sheriff's deputies,” said Tybee’s Assistant City Manager Michelle Owens.

The Chatham County Police Department (CCPD) stated it will have significant additional staffing throughout the weekend for traffic control and emergency response on Hwy. 80, Wilmington Island and Talahi Island. CCPD is asking that motorists plan ahead for potential delays this weekend.

Laura Nwogu is the quality of life reporter for Savannah Morning News. Contact her at LNwogu@gannett.com. Twitter: @lauranwogu_

Nancy Guan is the general assignment reporter covering Chatham County municipalities. Reach her at nguan@gannett.com or on Twitter @nancyguann.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Tybee Island officials, Georgia State Patrol clear up Orange Crush claims