Spring Break Chaos Caught on Camera

Authorities in Florida’s Panhandle are cracking down on rowdy college students by sharing viral bodycam videos. The Bay County Sheriff’s Office has launched a social media campaign to deter students from breaking the law, and it’s working – their videos have racked up hundreds of thousands of views.

Panicked Crowds and Bloody Brawls

In one shocking clip, a college-aged man is covered in blood after a fight broke out at a house party. The altercation allegedly started when the man, Steven Claghorn, broke up with his girlfriend, Ava, on her birthday. Things quickly escalated, with Ava shoving a female police officer and getting arrested.

Claghorn, who appeared to be intoxicated, told the officer, ‘Don’t handle her like that. I don’t care about the job title. Don’t handle her like that.’ Ava was charged with obstructing a law enforcement officer, while Claghorn was arrested for assault and resisting an officer.

Police Crack Down on Street Racing and Parties

Another video shows officers breaking up a house party, where approximately a dozen students were dressed in party clothes and bathing suits. The students were lined up and questioned about who was in charge of the party. An officer told them, ‘We live in a city where people come in for vacation and have a good time, but at no point does that mean that we’re going to be okay with people coming into our county or our city and breaking our rules and our laws.’

Authorities also caught a street racer, Rodney Jackson, who was allegedly driving 107 mph in a 45 mph zone. Jackson was arrested and charged with racing on the roadway and super speeder.

New Rules to Tame the Chaos

In response to the Spring Break chaos, authorities have banned alcohol on Panama City Beach for the month of March, and bars must close by 2 a.m. There’s also a nighttime curfew for minors, and vacation rentals are barred from renting to anyone under 21.

Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford warned, ‘If you plan on engaging in this type of activity, I’d recommend you find somewhere else to go.’ He encouraged parents to make their kids aware of the rules to avoid ‘significant expense and legal consequences.’