Video of Violent Crowd of 1,500 Forcing Emergency Closure of New York State Park
- Niagara Action
- 3 hours ago
- 1 min read
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A massive and unpermitted party prompted law enforcement to shut down Woodlawn Beach State Park in the late hours of Monday, June 23rd after public safety concerns escalated.
New York State Park Police had been monitoring social media activity that promoted an unauthorized gathering at the park. Despite efforts to reach out to and question individuals suspected of organizing the event, crowds still swarmed the beach by the evening.
Officials estimated that approximately 1,500 people were in attendance. The large group quickly became unmanageable with reports of alcohol use, physical altercations, and defiance of police directives.
In essence, the crowd became rowdy.
As tensions rose and multiple fights broke out, authorities decided to close the beach at around 8:40pm to prevent further danger.
The situation required support from several neighboring agencies including the New York State Police, Erie County Sheriff’s Office, and police departments from Hamburg, Cheektowaga, Evans, Orchard Park, Town of Tonawanda, and West Seneca.
One individual was taken into custody during the commotion while others evaded law enforcement.
Investigators are continuing to look into the origins of the event and identify those responsible for organizing it.
Anyone with tips about the party or information about future unauthorized gatherings is asked to contact New York State Park Police at (716) 278-1777.
VIDEO: Violent Crowd of 1,500 Forces Emergency Closure of New York State Park