SEATTLE — A strong-arm robbery, multiple fights, and assaults led to Seattle's Alki Beach Park being closed Saturday night.
By 7 p.m., a large group of people playing loud music formed near Marine Avenue Southwest and Alki Avenue Southwest, according to the Seattle Police Department.
Police were aware of social media posts about a large gathering at the beach slated for Saturday evening and staffed accordingly.
Between 7:30-8:30 p.m., police broke up a fight, took a report for a robbery, and assisted a "highly-intoxicated" 18-year-old who was in and out of consciousness.
Nearby, police were flagged down around 8 p.m. and were told of a man pacing a parking lot with a gun. Officers seized the gun from the man after determining he had brandished it earlier.
Another fight broke out just before 9:30 p.m. Two men were arrested for fighting. An officer's thumb was broken while breaking up the fight, but no assault charges will be sought because it was unintentional. However, a woman was arrested at the scene for a minor assault on another officer.
Officers began extinguishing beach fires at the request of the Seattle Parks Department. Beachgoers were told to leave the area around 10 p.m.
As people were leaving, a woman reported she was pepper-sprayed but did not stay to give an official report or get medical attention.
Several bottles were thrown at officers as the group left the area. Multiple fireworks were lit within the crowd, according to police.
The crowd was gone by 11 p.m. A total of three people were arrested.
Multiple people told KING 5 they heard about the event on the social media app TikTok. Videos made on TikTok promoted the Alki Beach gathering for almost a week and called it a "kickback." The videos received more than 300,000 views combined.
Invites for kickbacks recently went viral on TikTok after videos were posted about "Adrian's Kickback" in Huntington Beach, California. Thousands showed up at Huntington Beach Friday and Saturday night. Police said nearly 150 people were arrested, including 28 minors.
Some residents said the behavior they witnessed Saturday was the worst they've seen.
Stacy Bass-Walden said she's "never seen it like that."
In recent years, however, residents said there has been a noticeable difference between daytime and nighttime activity at Alki Beach. Stacy Bass-Walden said there have been discussions about how to make the area safer over weekends, including blocking off streets.
Meanwhile, neighbors regularly organize and lead cleanup efforts. They hope not to see what occurred on Saturday again.