Big Group Gathers In Beach Parking Lots In Manhattan Beach

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — A large group of approximately 250 people showed up and hung out in parking lots near the Manhattan Beach Pier last night, according to the Manhattan Beach Police Department. The group showed up around 9 p.m. and left around 11 p.m., said Sgt. Tim Zins of MBPD.

"It was a very disturbing event which caused us to immediately lock the doors and send managers down to escort our employees and customers out safely," said Bob Beverly, Shellback Tavern owner and Manhattan Beach resident. "We have seen a total change downtown in the last few weeks."

"The parking lot was full of people seeming to party," said Kate Arrigoni, MB resident and business owner. She and her husband Ric came upon the scene around 10 p.m. when they walked to downtown Manhattan Beach to go to their business. "Music was on and people were partying."

Kate describes an unusual and unexpected scene with Manhattan Beach Boulevard closed by police at Manhattan Avenue and cars filling most of the parking spaces along Manhattan Avenue. Ocean Drive, she said, "looked like it was blocked by cars parked in the middle of the alley." As people emerged from their cars on Manhattan Avenue and Ocean Drive, they headed to the parking lot below Shellback Tavern and joined the party. More police were parked at the intersection of Ocean Drive and Manhattan Beach Boulevard, she added.

In a statement, Zins wrote, "The group proceeded to violate laws and MB municipal codes such as amplified music, smoking, drinking alcohol and illegal parking. Our ALPR [license plate reading equipment] picked up on a stolen vehicle which was part of the group. Officers went into the group to recover the stolen vehicle. The vehicle was abandoned when the officers arrived so there was no arrest but the vehicle was recovered." Zins did not "have any information if citations were given but no arrests were made."

When Ric Arrigoni went downtown to their shop this morning, he told her, "The streets were a mess — empty liquor bottles and lots of fast food wrappers and bags. It appeared as though they meant to leave our city trashed. We are lucky our city didn’t have any other noticeable damage, thanks to our great MBPD."

MB Patch did ask questions about the racial, gender and age composition of the group, however, MBPD did not have any further details. MB Patch also called Shellback Tavern [the group was seen in the parking lot next to Shellback] to find out more about the group but the call was not picked up.

This story will be updated as more information emerges.