- May 5, 2026
Nine separate civil court cases have been filed against the promoters of the March Take Over Daytona Beach spring break events.
Volusia Sheriff’s Mike Chitwood led the charge in filing civil cases against the event promoters in late April, filing cases against Aliyah Brooks of Clayton County, Georgia and Brittany Plummer of Bibb County, Georgia. Chitwood and the Volusia Sheriff’s Office have partnered with Daytona Beach attorney Aaron Delgado, a former city commissioner, to file the cases against the promoters.
“What we're doing is we're setting the tone here. I don't think this has been done anywhere before,” Chitwood said in the press conference. “We are not going to stand for this and we're going to come after you.”
Delgado said the promoters attempt to make a profit while not following the law while local businesses that do struggle.
“It's not fair to local businesses,” Delgado said.
The events occurred over the March 13-15 and 19-21 weekends, spurring the city and the VSO to implement a special event zone with a curfew. The crowds caused stampedes at several points when participants crumpled water bottles to imitate the sound of gunshots and “numerous” felony arrests were made during the events, the lawsuit states.
Chitwood said the VSO is working with the State Attorney’s Office to attempt to file criminal charges against Brooks and Plummer.
Since Chitwood and Delgado filed the initial complaint on April 21, Delgado has filed eight other civil suits against Brooks and Plummer on behalf of local businesses.
The eight businesses suing Brooks and Plummer are three businesses owned by Louizes & Sons, Inc., Ocean Ave Gallery, the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, the restaurant Strouds Hog Heaven, Made in the Shade Beach Services and Jungle George’s Airbrush & More.
Chitwood’s lawsuit and the eight businesses are each seeking $50,000 in damages from Brooks and Plummer in the lawsuits. The most recent suit was filed on April 28.
According to Chitwood’s lawsuit, the VSO and other local law enforcement was required to deploy additional units, helicopters and drones, and “take drastic measures” to keep order. The VSO paid out more 5,750 hours of additional wages and benefits because of the events.
This cost the VSO — and taxpayers — $811,421.
“The word is this: Daytona Beach is closed,” Chitwood said. “If you come in here and you try to hold us economically hostage with these pop-up events that are unpermitted, unsanctioned — we are going to come and get you.”
Each lawsuit refers to the spring break events as “the invasion,” a “social media fueled orchestrated ‘invasion’ style party promoted” for Daytona Beach. Chitwood’s lawsuit alleges Brooks and Plummer’s efforts to organize the Invasion violated public rights and subverted public order.
The lawsuits state Brooks and Plummer did not obtain proper permitting for the events or took any steps to manage the crowds, instead they “profited at the expense of the local community which played unwilling host to the Invasion.”
Delgado said many of the businesses had to shut down because of the event, losing out on several days of revenue. The events also could deter future visitors from coming to Daytona Beach because of the increased crime and dangerous crowds.
“That's another part of this is the damage to the reputation of the area. The fact that families aren't going to want to come here,” he said.
In the press conference, Chitwood said Brooks made almost $100,000 in promoting the event, according to VSO research. The Sheriff likened promoting the events to yelling ‘hijack’ on an airplane
“If you walk into a crowded movie theater and you yell ‘fire, fire, fire,’ you're getting arrested and charged with a felony,” Chitwood said. “Why should you be able to sit hundreds of miles away behind your computer and put a community under economic strain?”
