Texas 'Go Topless Jeep Weekend'

6IX WORLD NEWS 

PUBLISHED:  23 May 2022 

Suspected drunk driver runs over sheriff's deputy as Texas 'Go Topless Jeep Weekend' turns into melee: More than 100 arrests, 38 people injured as 40,000 descend on beach town for wild, drunken weekend

• Galveston County Sheriff's deputies were overwhelmed over the weekend as they responded to mounting reports of assaults, brawls and DWIs when the 'Go Topless Jeep' festival at Crystal Beach turned into chaos
• Twenty-two-year-old suspected drunk driver Darius Danzell Gilbert was arrested after allegedly running over deputy sergeant John Hamm, who suffered two broken legs and head injuries
• At least 38 people had to be transported to hospitals, eight of them via helicopter, for injuries they sustained at the yearly event, with one woman being shot in her buttocks
• Police rushed to the shoreline to deal with car crashes, public intoxication, drunk driving, vehicle burglary and other offenses after the party spiraled out of control

scroll down 4 video

Over 100 people were arrested and more than 30 others were sent to the hospital after they suffered injuries at an infamous beach festival for Jeep enthusiasts in Texas.

Galveston County Sheriff's deputies were overwhelmed over the weekend as they responded to reports of assaults, brawls and DWIs when the 'Go Topless Jeep' festival at Crystal Beach descended into chaos.


Twenty-two-year-old suspected drunk driver Darius Danzell Gilbert was arrested after allegedly running over deputy sergeant John Hamm, who suffered two broken legs and head injuries, local news station KHOU reported.

At least 38 people had to be transported to hospitals, eight of them via helicopter, for injuries they sustained at the yearly event, with one woman being shot in her buttocks.

Police rushed to the shoreline to deal with car crashes, public intoxication, drunk driving, vehicle burglary and other offenses after the party spiraled out of control.

The number of arrests this year is a decline from 2021, when more than 200 partygoers ended up in jail. In recent years, residents of the area have pleaded with authorities to ban the festival, which they say leaves Crystal Beach trashed.

Galveston County Sheriff's deputies were overwhelmed over the weekend as they responded to mounting reports of assaults, brawls and DWIs when the 'Go Topless Jeep' festival at Crystal Beach descended into chaos

Police rushed to the shoreline to deal with car crashes, public intoxication, drunk driving, vehicle burglary and other offenses after the party spiraled out of control

The number of arrests this year is a decline from 2020's, when over 200 partygoers ended up in jail. In recent years, residents of the area have pleaded with authorities to ban the festival, which they say leaves Crystal Beach insanely trashed

More than the 40,000 Jeep aficionados took to Crystal Beach on Saturday to celebrate the 'Go Topless' weekend



Jeep owners attending the 'Go Topless' Jeep weekend in Crystal Beach Texas

The event was calmed during the day. The celebration descended into chaos as the night fell and police arrested over 100 people
Inside look at 'Go Topless Jeep' festival at Crystal Beach

More than the 40,000 Jeep aficionados took to Crystal Beach on Saturday to celebrate the 'Go Topless' weekend.

Galveston County Emergency Services and other state and county authorities had been planning for months to prepare for the annual festival, which draws a multitude of visitors to the Bolivar Peninsula from around the region.

Sergeant Hamm, with the Galveston County Sheriff's Office, was severely injured after he responded to a crash around 1.30am on Sunday. Police said he was struck by Gilbert, of Jefferson County, and received injuries to his legs, arms and head.

Hamm underwent surgery on Sunday. Gilbert was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and is currently being held on $100,000 bond.

Twenty-two-year-old suspected drunk driver Darius Danzell Gilbert was arrested after allegedly running over deputy sergeant John Hamm, who suffered two broken legs and head injuries, local news station KHOU reported

'He nearly went through the windshield,' Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset told abc13.

'He was flown by medical helicopter to UTMB. He has compound fractures of both legs, a broken arm and head injuries. He was conscious and talking. He was going into surgery Sunday morning. '

Roughly 40 people had to be taken to hospitals after reports that they had been injured.

'There has been a significant increase in the size of the crowds this year, additional resources to support those already in place have been requested to ensure that emergency services are available for the protection of both the first responders and residents of the Bolivar Peninsula,' Galveston County Emergency Services District announced.

'We've had about 100 Deputies working Jeep Weekend,' Trochesset told abc. 'Here comes Memorial Day weekend and more big crowds just around the corner. I hope people will be more responsible.'

'People need to be responsible,' Trochesset said. 'They seem to leave their brakes behind when they come to the Bolivar Peninsula. They wouldn't want people to treat their place like that.'

Other activities, like 'Jeeping for Jesus', also take place earlier at the festival.

'We are SOOOOOO blessed to get to do what we do. For the weekend total, we gave away 2000 snacks (peanuts, chips cookies) over 3000 bottles of water, almost 600 hotdogs, two pallets of sun screen & dozens of bibles. We prayed with several people and got to share the Love of Christ with many more,' Dwayne Greenwood wrote on Facebook.

But Jeep enthusiasts insist the festival is tarnished by other groups who use the opportunity to misbehave and annoy residents who complain the beaches are left full of trash

Roughly 40 people had to be taken to hospitals after reports that they had been injured

The number of arrests this year is a decline from 2020's, when over 200 partygoers ended up in jail

Texas 'Go Topless Jeep Weekend' resulted in more than 100 arrests for drunken fights and behavior leaving more than 30 injured

Galveston County Emergency Services and other state and county authorities had been planning for months to prepare for the annual festival, which draws a multitude of visitors to the Bolivar Peninsula from around the region

Other activities, like 'Jeeping for Jesus', also take place earlier at the festiva

Not all was mayhem: the organization Jeeping for Jesus gave away 'over 3000 bottles of water, almost 600 hotdogs, two pallets of sunscreen and dozens of bibles' during the day on Saturday

'We are tired, sunburned, scraped & bruised, glad it's over and blessed that we got to do it. God is Good!'

Controlling the pandemonium was made difficult by the sheer number of large vehicles and inebriated attendees.

But Jeep enthusiasts insist the festival is tarnished by other groups who use the opportunity to misbehave and annoy residents who complain the beaches are left full of trash.

Resident Geni Kay wrote in a Facebook post: 'All in all…it was a great weekend. GTW has definitely changed. It floors me the blatant disregard for life and property some of the younger generations have now. Thankfully, nothing happened at our place, but there was a lot of destruction everywhere here this weekend.'

The Texas Open Beaches Act allows for free public use of the beach and there is no way to limit crowd numbers, with the only remedy a larger police presence Sheriff Trochesset explained.

There are similar 'Go Topless' events organized by motorists across the country and the name comes from the Jeep Wrangler's removable roof.