15 Summonses Issued At NJ Shore ‘Pop Up’ Party Saturday

UNION BEACH, NJ - A social media “pop-up” party that saw dozens of attendees flock to Monmouth County from out of town and resulted in at least 15 summonses was dispersed by police on Saturday, authorities said.

Notifications about the event, sponsored by a 17-year-old teen, were first intercepted by the Union Beach Police Department and the Detective Bureau and the NJ Regional Operations Intelligence Center, Union Beach police said in a Facebook post.

Union Beach police and units from the Monmouth County Sheriff's Department, Middletown Township Police Department, Hazlet Township Police Department, Keyport Police Department, Holmdel Township Police Department, Matawan Police Department, Keansburg Police Department dispersed dozens of partygoers arriving to the area, the post read.

“The UBPD will not tolerate nor accept these unsanctioned gatherings that have resulted historically in chaos throughout the state,” Union Beach police said in a statement.

“Pop-up Events” are synonymous with disorderly conduct, fighting, public consumption of alcohol and property damage which prompt a large police presence, arrests and eventual cleanup - costing taxpayers thousands of dollars in services due to a surge of party goers. The quality of life to our residents and visitors alike are and will continue to be our number one priority.”

Saturday’s pop-up party was the latest of several advertised this weekend at the Jersey Shore, although officials from Long Branch and Point Pleasant Beach, where other pop-up events were slated to happen, reported a relatively quiet weekend to the Asbury Park Press.

Read more: Gun Violence Threat Now Added To Pop-Up Party Risks This Weekend

The Union Beach pop-up event comes nearly a month after a mass gathering in Long Branch saw more than 5,000 young people gather in Long Branch, with eleven adults and four juveniles arrested for fighting and vandalism. The windows of a Long Branch police cruiser were also smashed in.

The May 21 event – somewhat of a repeat of a similar party on the beach last June that saw attendees smash the windows of a 7-Eleven - has prompted legal action from the city of Long Branch against six party organizers. Attorneys for the city say these six men are the key people who used their social media accounts, such as Instagram and TikTok, to spread word of the public gatherings.

The lawsuit, filed in Monmouth County Superior Court, demands the men to reimburse the city $25,000 for overtime and "extraordinary expense" of having to bring in so many outside law enforcement agencies to deal with the May 21 crowds.

"The organizers of this event necessitated a large police response and eventual cleanup of the public areas at Pier Village, costing city taxpayers approximately $25,000," said Long Branch mayor John Pallone Thursday. "Their actions have also harmed our city's businesses and reputation. So, they should be held responsible." Read more: Long Branch Sues 6 New Jersey Men For Promoting Mass Pop-Up Parties