Fort Lauderdale police to increase patrols as spring break festivities turn violent: reports
Fort Lauderdale police told Fox News earlier this week they were 'pleased' with how things were running so far
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Fort Lauderdale police will increase patrols over the weekend as spring break celebrations gave way to a number of violent incidents Thursday, according to reports.
Miami Beach police bolstered their forces after clashes with visitors over the weekend, but this is a turnabout for Fort Lauderdale police, which previously dismissed suggestions that they would do the same and claimed the city is "no stranger to large crowds on the beach."
Fort Lauderdale Sgt. DeAnnna Greenlaw earlier this week told Fox News that the police were "pleased" with how things were running.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A shooting took place the following day.
Police responded shortly before 5 a.m. to a reported shooting outside Club Stereo in Fort Lauderdale’s Himmarshee Village, Local 10 News reported.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The victim, who worked in the area, was taken to a local hospital, where authorities say he is resting in stable condition after successful surgery.
Witnesses saw a fight outside the club before the shooting, though it is unclear whether the fight was related, according to the report.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"They came out the club, they were fighting, they came around the corner, and then we just heard gunshots," one witness said.
Video of the incident shows a man hitting a woman near the street outside the club.
"There’s been other gunshots around here down the street, so it’s not that surprising that we would have some kind of accident," John Alvarez, who works in one of the bars near the shooting, told NBC Miami. "It is spring break."
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Police claim that business owners reported a quiet night, but others in the area said that the scene was "wild."
"All these bars are open until 5 in the morning... and it’s a mess around here," said David McCormick, who was walking the area Thursday with his wife, Amy. "It’s really gotten bad."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Fort Lauderdale police did not yet return Fox News' request for comment on Friday.
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Anyone with information is asked to call Fort Lauderdale Police or Broward CrimeStoppers at 954-493-TIPS.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Fox News’ Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.