Two police officers were injured after more than 1,000 teens swarmed Orlando’s Icon Park in a “takeover.”
Orange County Sheriff John Mina told the Tampa Bay Times the incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and that the teens were running “crazy” throughout the park and starting fights.
The outlet reported that more than 50 officers responded to the incident and that two were hospitalized. Those officers have since been released, according to Mina.
Mina told the Times that nine teens, ages 13 to 16, were arrested. He said that some of them were facing charges of battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting law enforcement.
“I’m sure a majority of the kids who went there didn’t go there to cause problems, but a lot of them did,” Mina said. “Some of these are very, very serious crimes … it comes with significant penalties and could, you know, ruin a young life.”
Icon Park is a popular entertainment complex in Orland that has been in operation since 2015. It is best known for its “Orlando Eye” Ferris wheel, which is 400 feet tall. It also claims that its “Orlando Slingshot” is the tallest slingshot ride in the world, catapulting riders up to 390 feet into the air.
Mina told the Tampa Bay Times that the “takeover” event was advertised on social media and that another is being advertised now. He encouraged parents to monitor their children’s social media accounts and to discourage them from taking part in the events.
“To those who might plan on going there, just know that we are going to have dozens and dozens of deputy sheriffs there,” he said. “We will have transport vans ready to take you away in handcuffs if you break the law.”