3000 people gathered in the Spring Hill neighborhood, Deland, Florida for a late night block party. Cars were parked in the grass on either side of the road and the drinking commenced in the street. It appeared to be an impromptu car show. Cars were parked on multiple streets wrapping around the block. The gathering was reported to be a memorial for Kenya Alexander, a DeLand man who was murdered in 2008.
The block party eventually led to a visitor being shot in the foot and a rifle being pointed at a Volusia County Sheriff’s deputy, according to authorities. The violent resistance to police also included another deputy being struck with a bar stool, a third deputy suffering a leg injury, and a DeLand officer being hit in the head with a bottle. The Sheriff’s Office arrested seven people at the party, including three felons found with firearms. No one was wearing masks.
The aerial views of the crowd look like they could be be thermal imaging. With a thermal image heat generated is what is seen. Heat would be the brightest thing seen which would be really convenient if you wanted to check an entire crowd to see who has a fever. With the Covid-19 pandemic of course there should not be any crowds over 50 people. Folks at this block party were certainly not social distancing and therefor the virus could spread easily among them and then they in turn, could pass the virus on to relatives and friends. Though I like the idea of thermal imaging, the police images are likely taken with night vision goggles.
Spring Hill has been a designated Covid-19 hot spot by the local the health department and testing will start Thursday May 21, 2020. People found out about the event through a flyer and social media. The City of DeLand and Volusia County both confirmed earlier this week that they issued no permits for the block party.
Most in the crowd were black, and some made accusations that breaking up the crowd was racially play out until 10pm but it kept going past midnight. In a statement released alongside body camera footage from May 16, 2020 Sheriff Mike Chitwood said the police action taken that night was not in response to race but instead was for public safety.
“Not only was this a public safety issue, but it was a matter of public health,” Chief Umberger said, “no one should be getting together in large groups of 50 or more as of today under any circumstances in accordance with the order by Governor Ron DeSantis. While we may be reopening different parts of the city, county and state, no one should be having any large gatherings until the governor says it’s safe to do so.” Umberger added.
“It’s a personal responsibility (social distancing), it’s not law enforcement’s job to enforce quote unquote social distancing,” Chitwood responded during a news conference.