JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office says it is moving inmates out of the jail ahead of Orange Crush. Thousands are expected to make their way to Jacksonville Beach and the city this weekend for the event.
The decision made to transfer inmates to another jail was to ensure the jail’s population is at an adequate level to account for arrests during the event.
JSO is also assisting Jacksonville Beach Police. In an emailed response to Action News Jax, JSO said:
“There are plans in place to supplement the beaches’ area law enforcement agencies as a result of this weekend’s planned events.”
In the email, JSO also stated: “Historically, when high volume attendance events are planned in the beaches area, such as July 4 celebrations and Air Shows, we have assisted with manpower on both the security side as well as the traffic side.”
48 hours away from Orange Crush and we’re also learning more about who’s open and who’s closed.
The owner of Green Room Brewing said they’re closing because of short staff concerns for a potentially large turnout.
Shim Sham bar and The Wreck Tiki Bar & Lounge both told Action News Jax Ben Ryan they will be open but had no further comment.
Margaritaville only said, “no comment.”
John McGowan is the event producer for the Jacksonville Beach Arts Market, which is also happening this weekend, and said there’s the feeling of the unknown among businesses.
“A lot of them want to be open but they can’t be open because they don’t have enough employees in case it is a huge crowd,” McGowan said. “What you don’t want to do is be open and have a huge crowd and get overwhelmed, so what I’m hearing from the business owners is they’re just being cautious.”
Tybee police say stolen guns and drugs have also been issues in the past.
The festival comes one week after the Seawalk Music Festival in Jacksonville Beach. Today, Action News Jax learned over 10,000 people showed up to that event over the span of the weekend. The event also had an extra police presence. Action News Jax has reached out to learn if anyone was arrested.
McGowan said he isn’t concerned when it comes to safety.
“I’m optimistic, I’ve had zero concerns about Orange Crush crush since the beginning,” he said. “Could have 10,000 people, 20,000 people, it could be 1,000 people.”
Jacksonville Beach mayor tells Action News Jax that law enforcement agencies in Tybee Island have been in touch with them. The biggest concern they shared was not crime, but the amount of litter left behind by partygoers. A local beach clean-up has been set up for Monday after Orange Crush is over.
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