Hampton Beach: Police make 29 arrests, breaking up fights, unruly crowds

Angeljean Chiaramida
·2 min read

HAMPTON — The first warm weekend of the summer brought throngs of people to Hampton Beach, most behaved, others did not and suffered the consequences.

On Friday and throughout the weekend, according to Hampton Police Chief David Hobbs, police had to intervene when crowds got rowdy and fights broke out. Hampton police made 29 arrests. The motivating factor, he said, was too much drinking. Most offenders are facing alcohol-related as well as disorderly conduct charges.

“Every year when the warm weather comes we anticipate more people coming to Hampton Beach to enjoy all the wonderful things it offers,” said Hampton Police Chief David Hobbs. “Most people come and have fun. And we welcome them.

Hampton police made 29 arrests over the weekend dispersing large and unruly crowds at Hampton Beach.
Hampton police made 29 arrests over the weekend dispersing large and unruly crowds at Hampton Beach.

“But I think the message we want to get out is that if you come here and your intent is to disobey our laws and disrespect our community, there will be consequences. Those causing violence and disruptions will be arrested and prosecuted."

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The 29 arrests qualified as “a busy weekend,” according to Hobbs, but not profoundly so. On the plus side, he said, there were no injuries or damage to property.

The department had some warning groups of young people could be congregating at the beach, Hobbs said, from nearby and from Massachusetts.

“We had heard that it was senior skip day from some of our sources,” Hobbs said. “Social media, in general, has a way of helping young people gather.”

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As a result, he said, officers were watching. Most people were fine, he said, but as the day progressed officers started to observe some unacceptable behavior among the large groups of people that formed.

“As it was getting dark, I’d say around 7 or 7:30, there were some fights breaking out,” Hobbs said, “and officers stepped in.”

Hampton Police Chief David Hobbs said, "I think the message we want to get out is that if you come here and your intent is to disobey our laws and disrespect our community there will be consequences. Those causing violence and disruptions will be arrested and prosecuted."
Hampton Police Chief David Hobbs said, "I think the message we want to get out is that if you come here and your intent is to disobey our laws and disrespect our community there will be consequences. Those causing violence and disruptions will be arrested and prosecuted."

Upon dispersal, police said the groups made their way to the roadway and "continued to be disorderly and disrupt traffic on Ocean Boulvard."

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Hampton sent its officers, he said, but like all police departments across the country, Hampton is finding it challenging to staff up to meet all its needs. The community received assistance through mutual aid agreements with other law enforcement agencies in Rockingham County, Hobbs said, some help arrived in anticipation of the busy weekend.

“We had help throughout the weekend from Epping, Seabrook, Newmarket, Hampton Falls, South Hampton, East Kingston, Rye, Stratham and Exeter, as well as the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Department and of course the State Police,” Hobbs said. “We’re extremely grateful for all their help.”

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Hampton Beach police arrest 29 people in first warm weekend