‘Teen takeover’ thwarted in Wesley Chapel as teens find large law enforcement presence
by: Sierra Rains
Posted: Jun 1, 2026 / 10:31 PM EDT
Updated: Jun 2, 2026 / 05:49 AM EDT
WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. (WFLA) — A so-called “teen takeover” had been advertised for Monday night in Wesley Chapel, but few attendees stuck around after finding patrol cars scattered throughout the area.
There were nearly two dozen law enforcement officers blocking off the streets near the KRATE outdoor shopping center on Monday night. 8 On Your Side had a crew in the area and saw a number of teens show up before being turned away by law enforcement.
(WFLA)
The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office said deputies had been made aware of the advertised event and stationed additional units in the area as a “precautionary measure.” Businesses in the area also hired off-duty deputies to maintain safety, according to the sheriff’s office.
This comes after at least two other “teen takeovers” in the Tampa Bay area within the past month, both of which resulted in fights and arrests. Sunday, a planned “takeover” in Clearwater Beach turned into chaos and resulted in a 17-year-old being shot. Videos showed dozens of teens fighting and running in the middle of the street.
