L.A. Police Break Up COVID-19 Super-Spreader Swingers Party

Many people in Los Angeles County are learning that if you don’t want to get caught with your pants down, you need to follow the rules.

Southern California remains one of the worst coronavirus hotspots in the country. Even though most of the state is on lockdown, locals are finding ways to get together in large groups. The police recently broke up a massive swingers party at an abandoned warehouse just outside of the city. Dozens of adults can be seen walking out of the building in handcuffs and facemasks, with blankets around their shoulders. It seems some people are determined to party, even if it means putting lives at stake.

Swingers Let Loose

The city of Los Angeles is known for its vibrant nightlife, making the virus that much more difficult to control. Gov. Gavin Newsom has been adamant about preventing the spread of the virus, but some people are refusing to comply with the rules.

This led to a shocking scene in the city’s South Central region, where police officers swarmed a vacant warehouse. They found and arrested over 200 partygoers attending a swingers’ party. The guests were forced to march out of the facility wearing little more than blankets and facemasks.

During the raid that broke up the party, police used a loudspeaker to blast the message, “The party is over. If you do not come down, you will be subject to arrest.”

The L.A. County Sheriff’s office tweeted on Monday night, “On Saturday January 9, 2021 #LASD Super-Spreader Task Force continued enforcement of the Los Angeles County health orders to address underground party events. The results of the operation included 2 commercial building locations, and a total of 182 adult arrests (cited out).”

One thing remains clear in L.A.: the police aren’t messing around.

Shortly after the arrests were made, the department sent out a follow-up tweet, reminding locals to comply with the rules. The tweet repeated what Alex Villanueva, the sheriff of L.A. County, has been telling residents for months:

“Villanueva has made it clear he will seek out & take law enforcement action against ALL underground party events occurring anywhere within Los Angeles County, who fall under the Health Orders of the County’s Department of Public Health.”

Underground super-spreader events have been a cause for concern throughout the city. From private mansion parties to secret clubs, a variety of locations have been visited by the police as they try to make sure everyone is abiding by the latest rules.

On December 8, 2020, the Board of Supervisors for L.A. County motioned for a COVID-19 enforcement action to be implemented. This led to the creation of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s “Super-Spreader Taskforce”.

A NYE to Remember

This isn’t the first time local officials have had to break up a massive underground party. The task force broke up a massive New Year’s Eve celebration in the city just a few days before the swingers’ party.

According to the official report, officials shut down five events at vacant warehouses, rental homes, closed businesses, and hotels where large numbers of people gathered.

In all, 90 people were arrested for violating the county’s safer-at-home order. More than 900 others were advised about the order and received warnings on New Year’s Eve.

Sheriff Alex Villanueva defended his actions to the public, “I have made it clear that we will seek out and take law enforcement action against all ‘super spreader’ events occurring anywhere within Los Angeles County. The goal of these enforcement actions is to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and the risk to our vulnerable populations.”