A wild house party in an upscale San Diego neighborhood spun out of control Saturday night, sending sheriff’s deputies racing to the scene after hundreds of young revelers packed into the area.
Deputies with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office were called to a home on El Apajo Road in Rancho Santa Fe just after 8 p.m. following reports of a disruptive gathering that had ballooned far beyond what the quiet neighborhood normally experiences.
The scene involved hundreds of attendees, most described by deputies as “kids,” according to NBC San Diego. It remains unclear whether anyone at the party was over the age of 18.
Clips circulating on social media appeared to show crowds of people streaming through the area as police vehicles lined the street.
Online rumors initially claimed the bash was being held inside a vacant $16 million luxury mansion listed for sale nearby. But the property’s realtor said the party didn’t happen there — and told NBC 7 the party was actually thrown by a renter living next door.
At one point, deputies say fireworks were launched during the party, prompting authorities to escalate their response. Backup from the California Highway Patrol and the San Diego Police Department was called in as the situation intensified.
It ultimately took about two hours from the first call for deputies to disperse the crowd and clear the scene.
Police say they’re increasingly tracking the social media accounts used to promote these underground parties. A digital flyer promoting the event had reportedly been shared across social media beforehand.
The ad hyped the party with a cover charge, boasting “hundreds expected,” and “strict security.”
“We do have detectives that are monitoring social media, especially when we know that there’s one social media page that’s putting out all the parties then we can follow that,” said Lt. Cesar Jimenez of the San Diego Police Department. “The issue is that they change handles a lot.”
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