Police presence strong in Fells Point as Memorial Day weekend kicks off summer season

Large crowds and music from portable speakers filled the streets of Baltimore’s Fells Point neighborhood Saturday night and into the next morning, during Memorial Day’s three-day weekend, the unofficial start to summer. Dozens of police officers stood watch on street corners and along a metal barricade surrounding Broadway Square.

“This is a red zone; I wouldn’t do anything down here if I was y’all,” an officer told a group of young people, after he advised them not to smoke marijuana outside of Max’s Taphouse on South Broadway.

Police appeared to be focused primarily on discouraging the “illegal parties” — public drinking or drug use — that seemed to spontaneously sprout among people dancing outside the bars. Such gatherings can get out of hand quickly and turn violent, as police saw later when a brief fight broke out among several women but was quickly contained.

Fells Point, with its concentration of bars and restaurants, is a popular gathering spot for young people year-round but especially in the spring and summer, when warmer weather draws crowds eager for entertainment and interaction. With them come concerns about safety and crime.

The beefed-up police presence late Saturday is part of an effort to stop mischief before it starts, Baltimore Police Public Information Officer Freddie Talbert said in a statement.

“We continually review our plans, and we will make adjustments when necessary to ensure the safety of those visiting Fells Point,” Talbert said. In addition to having more officers out during the late-night hours, police said they are also increasing foot patrols and business checks in the region.

Three years ago, after three people were shot in the wee hours of a Sunday morning, more than 30 business owners in the area threatened to withhold taxes if city leaders did not address what they said was a “culture of lawlessness.” The move was a response to the violence but also to then-State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby’s policy to not prosecute certain crimes, including drug possession, public drinking and urination, and trespassing.

Baltimore’s current state’s attorney, Ivan Bates, said he has made addressing such “quality of life” crimes a focus through a citation docket launched last year. It’s meant to hold offenders accountable, while helping them avoid prosecution if they comply with certain requirements, including community service.

The program, which also aims to connect individuals with necessary city services including drug treatment, has struggled to get off the ground, with officers writing few citations. Bates said that’s beginning to change through collaboration and training, and cooperation with Mayor Brandon Scott’s office.

“If police haven’t been on the force longer than eight, nine, 10 years, they’ve never ever enforced quality of life crimes, so it’s a whole brand new world,” he said in a telephone interview. “I feel we’re definitely moving in the right direction, but it’s a slow, heavy move.”

Addressing such crime is a citywide effort, but Fells Point in particular is a focus area, Bates said, because of the tourists it draws in addition to residents. Keeping everyone happy and safe keeps them all coming back, Bates said, which bolsters Baltimore’s economy.

According to city data, violent crimes in Fells Point are down 14% this year compared to the same dates in 2023, while property crimes are down 25%. In 2022, there were 155 violent crimes reported in the neighborhood, which dropped to 130 in 2023.

“Fells Point is a beautiful neighborhood with a rich history,” said Baltimore City Councilman Zeke Cohen, who represents the district where Fells Point is located.

“All are welcome to come hang out and patronize our local businesses. We expect everyone to follow the law, and for BPD to consistently enforce the law.”

Many business owners along the main entertainment area of Fells Point were reluctant to comment this weekend on the crowds that congregate on the sidewalks during the summer.

Toni James, the owner of the Katwalk and Angel Park boutique on Aliceanna Street, said that while her businesses close early and are largely unaffected by the nightlife, she has seen a police presence on the street corners as early as 8 p.m.

Early in the night Saturday, officers migrated throughout Fells Point breaking up disruptive groups along Lancaster, Aliceanna and Thames streets, and on South Broadway. Once the bars closed at 2 a.m., hundreds more people poured into the streets — primarily congregating on Thames Street and the pier. The police presence appeared to triple at the same time, according to the department.

Police were seen toting numerous confiscated bottles of liquor to trash cans on the street, where they were poured out and thrown away.

Kate Sims, president of the Fell’s Point Resident Association, said in a text that the open liquor bottles are a particular concern for local homeowners.

“We have been working closely with city administration toward a solution,” she wrote, “and we hope to see improvements in the next few weeks.”

A small physical altercation broke out near the Thames Street entrance of Broadway Square, but police moved in seconds later. Sirens quickly followed, and more police appeared, directing onlookers to move on, ushering them up South Broadway toward Aliceanna Street. By 2:30 a.m., most were gone.

Baltimore Sun reporter Mary Carole McCauley contributed to this article.