Two police officers were assaulted and injured by a group of teenagers while attempting to break up a large Fourth of July celebration in North Charleston, South Carolina. The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. on July 4th in the Chicora-Cherokee neighborhood.
According to North Charleston Police Chief Ron Camacho, the party, which had initially received a permit from the city, escalated into dangerous behavior. Reports from the scene included gunshots and fireworks being launched at passing vehicles. When officers intervened to disperse the crowd, they were met with resistance and escalating violence.
Video footage from the scene shows officers being pushed, punched, and beaten. In one instance, two officers were reportedly stomped by a group of teens. One officer was seen struggling with a youth before being pushed to the ground, then punched and hit with a stick by others. A fellow officer intervened, pulling the youth off his colleague, but was subsequently attacked by other individuals. The officer discharged a taser to disperse the growing crowd.
"We need some help," Chief Camacho stated at a press conference following the incident. "We really do. We need some help from the community. Because stuff like this is getting dangerous."
Camacho described the behavior as "the most difficult thing that I’ve had to deal with in my policing career" and appealed to the community for cooperation in managing unruly youth.
Authorities arrested four individuals at the scene: three juveniles and one adult. During the apprehension, police recovered four firearms, including two automatic weapons, and a homemade spear. Police are seeking further community assistance in identifying additional individuals involved in the assaults.