Tybee Island Orange Crush ends with 26 arrests, machine gun seized

[ad_1] Police clash with Orange Crush Reloaded attendees Between Friday, April 17, and Sunday, April 19, the Tybee Island Police Division and Georgia State Patrol made a complete of 26 arrests through the annual seashore bash, in response to preliminary figures offered to Fox Information Digital by police.

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Tybee Island’s controversial Orange Crush weekend ended with 26 arrests and 5 firearms seized, together with one weapon police say had been transformed right into a makeshift machine gun able to totally automated hearth.

Between Friday, April 17, and Sunday, April 19, the Tybee Island Police Department and Georgia State Patrol made a complete of 26 arrests through the annual seashore bash, in response to preliminary figures offered to Fox Information Digital by Tybee Island Police Capt. Emory Randolph.

Of these arrests, 19 have been made by Tybee Island police and 7 have been made by the Georgia State Patrol. The overall marks 4 extra arrests than final yr’s occasion, when authorities made 22 arrests over the weekend. There have been 54 arrests throughout Orange Crush in 2024 and 26 in 2023.

No different particulars on the arrests have been instantly obtainable.

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Referred to as Crush Reloaded this yr, the primary occasion is scheduled for Saturday with a music pageant on the Tybee Island seashore pier and pavilion. (Derek Shook for Fox Information Digital)

Police additionally handed out 100 visitors citations over the three-day span, with 49 issued by Tybee Island officers and 51 by state troopers.

Throughout the identical interval, the island’s 911 heart dealt with 297 requires service, Randolph mentioned.

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The annual occasion branded this yr as " Crush Reloaded ," returned to Tybee Island over the weekend with organizers selling it on-line as "THE BIGGEST HBCU BEACH BASH IS BACK" and saying greater than 50,000 individuals have been anticipated.

WATCH: Tybee Island mayor says Orange Crush Reloaded is now not 'harmful'

Tybee Island Mayor Brian West instructed Fox Information Digital the town’s safety method intently mirrored what authorities have used in recent times.

"It is fairly much like what we did final yr. It seems to be like we would have extra individuals this yr, however we put in a security protocol three years in the past that appears to be fairly efficient. And it is just about what we have seen for the previous three years now," West instructed Fox Information Digital.

West mentioned authorities introduced in assist from businesses throughout the area and the state, together with the Georgia State Patrol, Division of Pure Sources, Motor Service Division, Liberty County Sheriff’s Workplace, Chatham County Sheriff’s Workplace, Chatham County Police Division and Tybee Island’s personal police drive.

Legislation enforcement officers watch from the pavilion as DNR rides by means of the group on ATVs throughout Crush Reloaded, previously often called Orange Crush at Tybee Island, Ga on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning Information / USA TODAY NETWORK by way of Imagn Photographs)

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West mentioned the stepped-up security measures adopted issues in 2023, when he mentioned individuals who weren't school college students got here to the occasion and introduced "medicine and weapons."

"We had a very unhealthy scenario in 2023. And what occurred was we had lots of people that got here to this occasion that weren't school college students. They have been older those who have been attempting to benefit from the group, they usually have been bringing medicine and weapons," West mentioned. "And with the safety that we put in place, we have been in a position to filter these individuals out. And so now we've school college students which can be right here, and it is extra of a spring break sort group than it's a harmful sort group."

Spring breakers pose for a photograph throughout Crush Reloaded, previously often called Orange Crush at Tybee Island, Ga on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning Information / USA TODAY NETWORK by way of Imagn Photographs)

He additionally mentioned metropolis leaders have discovered the occasion runs extra easily when college students have organized entertainment .

"It actually works a lot better once we work collectively and have some sort of exercise for the scholars to do. Prior to now, after they simply confirmed up, they kinda needed to make their very own enjoyable. And typically that enjoyable actually wasn't the most effective factor to be doing," West mentioned. "So when there's an exercise, when there's a band, when there are issues to maintain their consideration, it really works a lot better."

WATCH: CEO of Orange Crush says occasion is 'rebranded' with collaboration with police, metropolis

Orange Crush Reloaded CEO Steven Smalls equally instructed Fox Information Digital the occasion is meant to provide school college students a spot to have fun safely.

"It is concerning the school college students greater than something to come back out and have an excellent time and concentrate on the commencement that is developing in Might. It is a college-based factor and hopefully sooner or later I can give again to some scholar debt aid and hopefully someday assist certainly one of SSU (Savannah State College) college students. Give certainly one of these youngsters a scholarship if I do good out right here, you already know, simply put again in the direction of the school group," Smalls mentioned.

Smalls mentioned the rebranded occasion and cooperation with metropolis officers helped create a greater setting for attendees.

Legislation enforcement officers preserve a watchful eye as partyers collect throughout Crush Reloaded, previously often called Orange Crush at Tybee Island, Ga on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (© Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning Information / USA TODAY NETWORK by way of Imagn Photographs)

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"That is the rebrand. I believe that is most likely the most effective factor that occurred. I really like the best way the connection is constructed, and I perceive what they received happening, they usually perceive what I've happening. And dealing collectively, it grew to become excellent right here what you see right now," Smalls mentioned.

He additionally argued that the organized pageant helps channel the crowds.

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"If I wasn't doing this, then they might simply be coming out right here. There would not be no sound, no leisure. It would not nothing for them to do, it'd simply be them being so pushed out. So me bringing the leisure and me being right here, they arrive out right here to have enjoyable. The police presence, that helps you be secure," Smalls mentioned.

Performers work together with dancers throughout Crush Reloaded, previously often called Orange Crush at Tybee Island, Ga on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning Information / USA TODAY NETWORK by way of Imagn Photographs)

Recognized for drawing large crowds to the small Georgia seashore city, Orange Crush has lengthy stirred controversy among residents and legislation enforcement due to previous violence, arrests and trash left behind in its wake.

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Forward of this yr’s festivities, Tybee Island officers mentioned they have been heightening enforcement and preparing for an inflow of holiday makers, as native considerations grew over public security and so-called "teen takeovers" which have been reported across the nation and within the area.

"Relaxation assured that we've heard you and that public security will all the time be our prime precedence," Randolph beforehand instructed Fox Information Digital when requested about residents’ considerations over the occasion.

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Starting Thursday earlier than the pageant weekend, residents and guests noticed an elevated legislation enforcement presence from numerous native and state businesses throughout the island. Authorities additionally launched a highway security checkpoint on Freeway 80, carved out emergency lanes on foremost roads and closed the 14th and sixteenth Road parking tons in an effort to keep up order.

WATCH: Teen takeover in Georgia caught on digicam

On April 4, police mentioned an unpermitted pop-up occasion close to the Tybee Island Pier and Pavilion was interrupted by gunfire after hundreds of teenagers gathered within the space.

Officers mentioned they heard a single gunshot round 6:30 p.m., sending the group operating.

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Orange Crush dates again a long time and earned a fame within the early Nineties as a rowdy, crime-filled weekend.

The pageant later moved to Jacksonville, Florida , in 2021, citing points together with restricted parking, lack of assets and alleged civil rights considerations, earlier than returning to Tybee Island in 2023 for the primary time since 2020.