Texas ‘Go Topless Jeep Weekend’ causes over 100 arrests, deputies hospitalized

This year’s Jeep go topless weekend in Texas resulted in more than 100 arrests and dozens of people, including a sheriff’s deputy, hospitalized during the event, which was attended by tens of thousands.

More than 80,000 revelers attended the weekend-long event for Jeep enthusiasts at Crystal Beach on the Bolivar Peninsula, a popular beach destination in Galveston County, Texas.

Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset told FOX 26 Houston that more than 100 people were arrested over the weekend as deputies responded to multiple attacks, fighting and DWIs.

One of his deputies, identified as Sgt. John Hamm, was responding to an accident on Highway 87 and Holiday Drive around 1:30 a.m. Sunday when he was struck by a suspected drunk driver in another vehicle, KHOU reported. He was flown to the University of Texas Medical Department, KTRK-TV reported.

The driver accused of hitting the deputy has been identified as Darius Danzell Gilbert.

The 22-year-old from China, a city in Jefferson County, Texas, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer. He was being held on a $100,000 bond.

The deputy nearly went through the car’s windshield as a result of the impact, Trochesset said. Hamm suffered two broken legs, an arm injury and a head injury and underwent surgery on Sunday morning.

At least 38 people were transported to area hospitals over the Jeep weekend. Among them were eight people who were brought by helicopter and the remaining dozens were transported by land, KPRC reported.

The event on Saturday alone was attended by up to 40,000 people.

Galveston County’s No. 2 Emergency Services District said Sunday on Facebook that the large influx of people was straining emergency services in the Bolivar Peninsula, noting that the number of crowds has increased significantly this year. Trochesset said about 200 people were arrested during the 2021 event.