UPDATED: City Commissioner Saunders & Rehoboth Beach Police Address Recent Calls for Large Crowds
UPDATED – 05/05/25: This comes from the Rehoboth Beach Police Department as received in an email to the Talk of Delmarva – as well as posted on the Rehoboth Beach Police Department Facebook page:
Per significant media inquiry, the Rehoboth Beach Police Department would like to address two incidents that occurred this past week between April 30th and May 2nd 2025. We aware that these incidents may have caused alarm to our residents, visitors, and businesses. The Rehoboth Beach Police Department responds to and fully investigates all reports of criminal activity. Our mission to safeguard our community remains tireless.
On April 30th at approximately 5:12 pm, officers were called to the ocean block of Rodney Street for a report of multiple parking violations. Responding officers noticed approximately ten to twelve parking violations and went onto the beach to attempt to located the vehicle owners. They observed a large crowd which they estimated to be two hundred and fifty people. The group had loud music playing and there were several instances of smoking on the beach. Officers spoke with several people concerning the parking, music and smoking violations. The group was very cooperative and complied with all requests.At approximately 7:11 pm, a second report was made for the same group alleging that some individuals were urinating in the dunes. Officers responded to the area and observed no violations. Officers remained on scene to monitor the group, but no violations were observed. The following morning, a large amount a trash had been left behind on the beach. No citations were issued as officers did not observe any littering while on scene.In an unrelated event on May 2nd at approximately 8:31 pm, officers responded to the ocean block of Rehoboth Avenue for a report of a large fight in progress. Upon their arrival, officers did not see any active fighting. They did observe a large crowd of an estimated one hundred people that matched the description of the group involved in the fight. Due to the size of the crowd and the nature of the call, officers requested additional police presence. The Delaware State Police and Dewey Beach Police provided additional officers and their presence helped disperse the crowd.
Multiple witnesses came forward to identify victims that had been involved in the fight. Two victims sustained minor injuries and were treated by EMS. The victims were not cooperative with the on scene investigation. A third victim had damage to their car as a result of the fight. Additional aspects of this incident are still under investigation. If you have any information concerning this incident, you may contact the Rehoboth Beach Police Department at 302-227-2577 or you may call Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-847-3333. You may remain anonymous.
As some of you may already be aware, last week we experienced a series of unfortunate and worrisome events in our city. On Wednesday evening around dusk, a group of approximately 200 college age people descended upon the beach at the ends of Norfolk and St. Lawrence Street. They proceeded to party hard, with reports of drinking and smoking on the beach, both of which are prohibited on Rehoboth Beach beaches and boardwalk. They also parked randomly and recklessly on both those blocks, and we have reports of members of the group using private yards as restrooms. The police responded, but with only a minimal number of officers available, they could only do so much immediately. The officers did eventually break up the group, and ordered improperly parked cars removed. The next day, nearby residents found the beach to be disgusting mess, with garbage and debris scattered all about.
Then, on Friday evening around 8.30 pm, another large group of teenagers walking on Rehoboth Avenue broke out into a fight with some of their own friends and actually beat a boy to the ground in front of our shocked visitors and residents. The police did arrive on the scene almost immediately, but the victim refused to cooperate, and the group dispersed. The police do not feel these two incidents are related.
This is behavior we cannot tolerate. Please know that at a Commissioners meeting today, the commissioners unanimously insisted upon a special meeting with Chief Banks to discuss these events and what action we can take to see that they are not repeated. As this is an ongoing police investigation, that meeting will not be held in public view, as confidential police action may be discussed. Security must be a priority, and we will do whatever is necessary to keep Rehoboth Beach a peaceful and safe community.
I’m sorry this email is a downer, but it is important to me that you all know what is going on, and even more important, that you know the mayor and commissioners are working closely with Chief Banks and City Manager Tedder and are taking action.
Thank you for reading,
Mark Saunders
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ORIGINAL STORY: 05/04/25 – Rehoboth Beach Police were called for a large fight in progress in the first block of Rehoboth Avenue Friday night around 8:30. As police arrived at the scene they found a crowd of about 100 teens – including juveniles and young adults – and called for assistance from neighboring jurisdictions – including Dewey Beach and Delaware State Police. Police were able to disperse the crowd and police say no one reported any crimes or injuries. +
Police add that a separate unrelated incident occurred on the first block of Olive Avenue around 8:45 which was initially reported as a fight, but turned out to be an intoxicated person who had drawn a crowd. EMS was called to treat the subject – no police action was taken.