What to Know
- 300 teens got into a huge brawl on a beach in Margate over Memorial Day weekend, resulting in three arrests, police say
- Police say rowdy, underage out-of-towners have become a problem in the Jersey Shore town in recent years
- Locals also say "tons and tons" of kids have been descending on the beach and town, drinking and getting into fights
Nearly 300 teens got into a huge brawl on a Jersey Shore beach over Memorial Day weekend, and police say most of them were underage out-of-towners.
Instagram video shows the large fights breaking out in Margate Saturday afternoon. Police officers ultimately wrestle two young men to the sand as a large crowd watches, whooping and jeering.
[NATL]Dr. Beach Reveals Top 10 Best Beaches in the US for 2017
"There were so many people fighting, they had to get help from Ventnor and Longport," Margate Police Captain Ken Bergeron told Philly.com.
Another Instagram video shows beachgoers watching the brawl and arrests from a distance. It's apparent the spectators are locals or regulars, bemused by what they're seeing.
"This is absolutely insane," says the woman taking the video.
A man nearby remarks, "People act like they're on spring break here. It's really sad."
60 Outdoor Concerts You Can See for Free This Summer
Local
Three people were arrested in the Washington Avenue beach brawl on charges of assault and disorderly conduct, according to police.
Bergeron told Philly.com they had their hands full the entire weekend with rowdy juveniles from out of town. Twelve teenagers were arrested over alcohol, marijuana and fighting.
"They're really disrespectful," he said.
He says over the last five years, police have noticed high school kids coming into Margate, getting into fights and stealing things off the beaches.
Mayor Mike Becker also told Philly.com that things have gotten "way out of hand."
"We welcome all visitors, but we can't tolerate this behavior," he said. "It was a mess. This is probably the third year we've had the same thing over Memorial Day weekend: total lack of respect for other people."
A surf shop manager near the beach told Philly.com that the "beach seemed to be like a whole different deal."
"Tons and tons of kids, high school kids, too young to be out on the beach drinking and fighting," said Matt Marino. "A lot of families going to that beach, tripping out over that many kids there."
