Law enforcement officers stress this weekends behavior will not be tolerated

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) -161 individuals were arrested over the weekend. This was in response to numerous incidents related to what was seen on social media accounts as the “PCB Takeover.”

These incidents caused road closures and several businesses along Front Beach Road to close their doors earlier than expected over the weekend.

“What we saw this past weekend is absolutely unacceptable period. The behavior of these pathetic cowards that came to our beach and committed these crimes their actions will not be tolerated period,” Chief J.R Talamantez, PCBPD said.

Of those 161 individuals that were booked into the Bay County Jail, 78 were from Alabama, according to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.

“I assure you that this will not be a real fun beach at Bay County Jail. You’ve come here to act like a criminal will treat you like one,” Sheriff Tommy Ford, said.

Law enforcement officials announced on Monday that over the course of the weekend 75 illegal firearms were seized.

“This is this weekend could have very easily resulted in some tragedies of an officer’s loss of life, a citizen’s loss of life or even a bad guy’s loss of life,” Sheriff Ford, said.

Of those 75 guns seized, there is one BCSO Major Jimmy Stanford will never forget.

“I have encountered a few armed people but I have never had a gun pointed right in my face like that, which I’m hoping will never happen again,” Stanford said.

Throughout the press conference held on Monday, law enforcement, city, and county officials all said these individuals causing chaos over the weekend were not spring breakers.

“This isn’t what we want coming to our city, we want the Spring Breakers, we want the tourist, we don’t want this element,” Panama City Police Chief, Mark Smith said.

When asked about a local state of emergency or curfew both Chief Talamantez and Sheriff Ford said nothing was off the table. Sheriff Ford added that both of those items were discussed following the shooting that took place on Sunday however they believe that now most of these individuals have left town.

There will be a special meeting Friday, April 1st, at Panama City Beach City Hall to discuss and provide any tools law enforcement needs.

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