Cape Cod beach is trashed, descends into chaos: ‘Crowds became rowdier and more aggressive’

A Cape Cod beach packed with thousands of rowdy teens and young adults descended into chaos for the second straight Fourth of July, as police reported that they made a number of arrests and seized large amounts of alcohol.

The partying beachgoers ended up trashing Mayflower Beach in Dennis, leaving an “extraordinary” amount of garbage, according to police. That trash included aluminum cans, broken glass and coolers, beach chairs, and contraband.

After last year’s problems at the Dennis beach, the town had set up a plan to try to avoid an out-of-control mass gathering for the Fourth of July. But it was another mess of a holiday at the beach.

Thousands of late teenagers and early 20-year-olds arrived at dawn on Tuesday, and set up on the beach.

“Police and Beach Staff actively moved to deter loud music and alcohol on the beach,” Dennis Police wrote. “By early afternoon, the volume and overcrowding that continued throughout the day was no longer manageable by the already-strong police presence.”

Dennis Police Chief John Brady at around 2:40 p.m. decided to close Mayflower and surrounding beaches because of the size of the crowd in the thousands.

Crowding was a problem for beach officials, especially with the incoming high tide. Pathways for lifeguards and public safety equipment became congested, and bathhouse facilities began failing.

“Dennis Police made a number of arrests and removals from the beach and quantities of alcohol were seized,” police wrote, adding, “Over time, the crowds became rowdier and more aggressive, requiring more police intervention in the crowds.”

Meanwhile, severe thunderstorms were forecasted for the late afternoon on the Fourth of July.

Police at around 5 p.m. began to clear the beach, just before the storm.

The beach was a complete mess after the crowds left.

Dennis Police wrote, “Given the duration of the storm, and the beach parking lot closing times approaching, gates were left locked until 8 a.m. on July 5th to allow DPW crews and volunteers to clean up the extraordinary amount of trash, which included aluminum cans, towels, clothing, shoes, broken glass, broken coolers, beach chairs, and contraband.”