Volusia sheriff announces lawsuits against Daytona Beach spring break party promoters
By Dacia Johnson, Pamela Comme
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VOLUSIA COUNTY, Florida (WESH) — Volusia County announced lawsuits against the promoters of massive gatherings that caused chaos in Daytona Beach over spring break.
“What we’re doing is we’re setting the tone here,” said Sheriff Mike Chitwood. “I don’t think this has been done anywhere before. We are not going to stand for this, and we’re going to come after you.”
Chitwood earlier this month slammed party promoters for encouraging people to take over Daytona Beach in what he called unsanctioned events.
Chitwood on Friday said lawsuits were filed earlier this week against two women accused of promoting a spring break takeover. The sheriff’s office is seeking more than $100,000 in damages.
“If you come in here, and you try to hold us economically hostage, with these pop-up events that are unpermitted, unsanctioned, we are going to come and get you…,” said Chitwood. “We’re coming civilly for everything you got.”
Seven separate lawsuits were filed, and more are on the way, attorney Aaron Delgado said.
“The barbecue place (Stroud’s Hog Heaven), they closed down, they sent their employees home. So they lost several days of revenue,” said Delgado. “…If you damage the reputation, if people don’t think it’s safe to come here, they don’t think it’s safe to bring their families here. That’s a lifetime to rebuild that.”
The sheriff’s office will work with the state attorney to determine whether criminal charges can be filed.
“We’re looking at the aggravated rioting statute because I think when you read that statute and watch the videos they posted, to me, I’m not an attorney, that’s a riot,” said Chitwood.
A video that went viral on social media shows a large crowd running on the beach after they heard what was thought to be gunshots. Chitwood later said it was people crushing water bottles.
VSO in the lawsuit said it had to spend more than $800,000 for extra deputies and resources on two separate weekends to keep the peace.
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