Large police presence keeps Fells Point orderly during first night of Sail250 weekend

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — After several weekends of violence and disorder in Fells Point, Friday night marked a noticeably calmer start to one of Baltimore’s busiest weekends.

As Sail250 officially kicked off Friday, drawing thousands of residents and visitors to Baltimore’s waterfront for tall ships, military vessels and festivals throughout the weekend, FOX45 News observed a large police presence in Fells Point Friday night into early Saturday morning.

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“That I know of, there were no reported major incidents in Fells Point last night,” a Baltimore Police Department spokesperson told FOX45 News Saturday.

The increased police presence comes after back-to-back weekends of violence and disorder in Fells Point, where residents and business owners say they’ve watched open drinking, illegal alcohol sales, and other violations happen in plain sight with little enforcement.

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Despite the large crowds that flooded Fells Point over the last two weekends, Baltimore Police say only seven citations were issued — three for disorderly conduct, two for open containers, one for smoking cannabis, and one liquor law violation.

Baltimore police had previously announced enhanced security measures and increased patrols during the weeklong celebration.

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FOX45 News asked police:

• How well did the new curfew and safety plan work?
• Were there any arrests or citations?
• Will officers continue following the enhanced safety plan Saturday night and throughout the summer?

“As for the remainder of your questions, please follow up during the week, as weekend coverage is limited to on-call responsibilities and breaking incident,” the spokesperson said Saturday.

While police did not immediately answer those questions, FOX45 News observed officers stationed throughout Fells Point as crowds moved through the neighborhood.