Another Pop-Up Party At NJ Shore Prompts Police Probe

ASBURY PARK, NJ - Another pop-up party planned at the Jersey Shore is under investigation, authorities said.

An Asbury Park beachfront pop-up event for May 29 circulating on social media prompted the investigation, Asbury Park police said, noting that the probe involves multiple agencies.

"The Asbury Park Police Department as well as other agencies are currently investigating these posts in an attempt to determine the credibility of the details," the agency wrote Saturday in a Nixle alert. "The Asbury Park Police Department is coordinating with other law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of our community and its visitors. There will be zero tolerance for any illegal acts and lewd behavior in reference to this pop up party or any other future events."

It was not immediately clear if the pop-up event took place Sunday. A request for comment from Asbury Park police was not immediately answered.

Last week, a similar pop-up party in Long Branch that was advertised among teens via social media drew in a reported crowd of 5,000 and saw 15 people arrested. The incident prompted a citywide curfew, and led at least two New Jersey lawmakers to call on Gov. Phil Murphy to investigate future events.

"This weekend's incident followed the same script we saw last summer, when hordes of out-of-control teenagers swarmed to the shore," Sen. Robert Singer (R-30) said in a statement last week. "This is not a case of getting some people together and going to the shore, it's an orchestrated criminal act. These are organized incidents, promoted with flyers and posts all over social media calling for people to 'bring your booze, bring your marijuana, and let's go to Long Branch.'"

Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth) noted that he will introduce a bill to hold beachgoers responsible for any damage left behind.

Scattered fights also broke out in the mass gathering, and one police car was vandalized, according to Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey. In total, 11 adults and four teens were arrested, most charged in connection with the fighting. One person was charged with vandalizing a police car.

To disperse the crowds, one flash bang or stun grenade was used by police, and smoke was deployed, said Linskey.

The invite spread rapidly on TikTok. The invite read "The First Beach Link Up 2022," had a photo of Pier Village, and read "Saturday, May 21, 12 p.m. - UNTIL, BYOLQ (bring your own liquor) and BYOW (bring your own weed), music, eats, fun, YouTubers, good vibes. Tell a friend to tell a friend!"

A similar social media-fueled party in Long Branch last summer was also shut down by police.

"It's not even the summer season yet. We've got to be ahead of this, and as a shore legislator, I'm asking the Governor for help now," Singer said. "Every time we have confrontations like this, there's a risk of people getting hurt. If we don't take swift action, this problem will get out of hand and threaten to disrupt the vital shore economy at the worst time imaginable."