By Paul Best Fox News
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Thousands of revelers in souped-up jeeps took to the beaches in Galveston County for «Go Topless Jeep Weekend,» but nearly 100 people were arrested on the first night Friday, FOX 26 reports.
Jeep enthusiasts gather near the Bolivar Peninsula every year to show off their custom Jeeps during the day and party around bonfires at night. More than 1,100 people said they were going on a Facebook event for this year’s festivities.
Of the 86 arrests that were made Friday, most were for minor offenses like public intoxication, but nine people got DUIs, according to FOX 26.
A group of people riding in a Jeep during the Go Topless Jeep Weekend event get stopped by a Galveston County Sheriff’s Office deputy at Crystal Beach on Bolivar Peninsula last year. (AP/Houston Chronicle)
«The beach is 32 miles long but it’s only approximately two miles that the majority of the problems are in,» Galveston County Sergeant Justin Ostermayer told the local news outlet.
«We will have an around the clock nurse at our substation on Crystal Beach… Our DA’s office actually set that up for us, they will be there to do blood draws.»
Paul Best is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to Paul.Best@fox.com and on Twitter: @KincaidBest.
By Danielle Wallace Fox News
Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what’s clicking on Foxnews.com.
This year’s annual «go topless» Jeep weekend in Texas resulted in more than 100 arrests and dozens of people, including a sheriff’s deputy, sent to the hospital during the event attended by tens of thousands.
More than 80,000 revelers attended the weekend-long event for Jeep enthusiasts at Crystal Beach on the Bolivar Peninsula, a popular beach destination in Galveston County, Texas.
Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset told FOX 26 Houston that more than 100 people were arrested over the weekend, as deputies responded to multiple assaults, fights and DWIs.
One of his deputies, identified as Sgt. John Hamm, was responding to a crash around 1:30 a.m. Sunday on Highway 87 and Holiday Drive when he was struck by a suspected drunk driver in another vehicle, KHOU reported. He was airlifted to the University of Texas Medical Branch, KTRK-TV reported.
The driver accused of striking the deputy was identified as Darius Danzell Gilbert.
The 22-year-old from China, a city in Jefferson County, Texas, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer. He was being held on a $100,000 bond.
The deputy nearly went through the car’s windshield due to the impact, Trochesset said. Hamm suffered two broken legs, as well as an arm and a head injury, and was undergoing surgery Sunday morning.
At least 38 individuals were transported to area hospitals during the Jeep weekend. That included eight people brought by helicopter, and the remaining dozens transported by ground, KPRC reported.
Darius Danzell Gilbert is accused of striking a Galveston County deputy while drunk driving during the annual «Go Topless Jeep Weekend.» (Galveston County Sheriff’s Office)
Saturday’s event alone was attended by up to 40,000 people.
Galveston County Emergency Services District No.2 said on Facebook Sunday that the large influx of people was straining emergency services on the Bolivar Peninsula, noting a significant increase in the size of the crowds this year. Trochesset said about 200 people were arrested during 2021’s event.
Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering politics, crime, police and more. Story tips can be sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and on Twitter: @danimwallace.
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