Hundreds arrested in Miami Beach as spring breakers ignore COVID-19 protocols, mayor says

The mayor of Miami Beach said hundreds of people were arrested and at least two police officers were injured this weekend as thousands of spring breakers flocked to the popular South Florida destination — ignoring COVID-19 safety protocols. 

On Friday, the Miami Beach Police Department tweeted that officers were forced to use pepper balls to disperse a "very large" disorderly crowd as it took a subject into custody. Two officers were taken to the hospital for minor injuries following the incident and released Saturday morning.  "What happened was a large crowd gathered at some point in time there were people that went ahead and walked into the crowd started throwing up money into the air causing a larger crowd to gather," Miami Beach Police Chief Rick Clements told CBS Miami.