Teen fight clubs take over Marine Street Beach
La Jolla's Marine Street Beach Has a Fight Club Problem
Spring break in La Jolla used to mean tourists clogging Prospect Street and surfers dropping in on each other at Windansea. Now there's a new and far more alarming tradition: organized teen fight clubs descending on Marine Street Beach, and SDPD is not amused.
San Diego police are raising the alarm after groups of teens and young adults — some as young as middle schoolers — have been using social media to coordinate large-scale brawls at the beloved La Jolla beach. The gatherings are literally being called "fight clubs" in online posts, and the crowds that show up have at times swelled into the hundreds, with some events approaching nearly 1,000 people.
What starts as an organized boxing match on the sand can deteriorate fast. Video obtained by FOX 5/KUSI shows crowds surrounding the fighters, cheering, recording, and at times making things worse. SDPD Sgt. Ricky Escalante confirmed these are not random meetups — participants are traveling in from outside San Diego County specifically for these events.
The chaos isn't staying on the beach, either. Residents near Marine Street have reported teens wandering onto private property, causing damage and general mayhem in the neighborhood. Beachgoers trying to enjoy a quiet Saturday are describing a scene that is anything but chill.
Police are stepping up patrols and monitoring social media to get ahead of planned meetups before they happen. Minors caught with alcohol face citations and potential headaches come driver's license time. Anyone caught throwing punches could face more serious charges.
With spring break in full swing and warm weather ahead, SDPD is urging parents to check what their kids are watching and planning online. Marine Street is a great break — it would be a shame to ruin it with a felony record.
Sources: FOX 5 / KUSI | Yahoo News | Surfer Magazine