Mayor Warns Rowdy Visitors: Cause Chaos in Tuscaloosa, We’ll Send Your Ass to Jail

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox warned visitors to the Druid City on Monday that while all are welcome to enjoy all the city has to offer, they should plan to either behave or wind up in jail.

His stern comments came on the Steve and DC Show on 95.3 the Bear Monday morning and followed yet another A-Day weekend in Tuscaloosa during which police shut down pedestrian and vehicle access to the Strip over large, unruly crowds.

It is the third time in four years that TPD and the University of Alabama Police Department have shut down the Strip after A-Day, and Maddox said most of the troublemakers appear to have been out-of-town visitors and very young folks dropped off by their parents.

Maddox said for the last five years, crowds have flooded into Tuscaloosa after A-Day for impromptu parties while police resources are tied up around Bryant-Denny Stadium and the Strip.

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"It's become an annual rite of passage where people from outside Tuscaloosa 'take over T-Town,' and it becomes a social media base," Maddox said. "It's surely galvanized by a local business here, but also, too, by an out-of-state party-planning app where you go in, try to get people en masse to come into your community, take it over, and turn it into a party scene, and frankly, we're not accepting it. And if you come to Tuscaloosa and want to create chaos, we're going to send your ass to jail."

The decision to close the Strip reportedly came after minor altercations suggested the crowds might get even more disorderly, and a juvenile was found with a firearm.

So before 6 p.m., police declared the Strip closed and ordered all who were gathered on the streets and sidewalks outside to leave. Those inside businesses could stay there, but many bars and restaurants chose to close early.

Maddox said he feels for people who rely on events like A-Day to bring visitors, business, and cash tips to the area, but added that unsafe and illegal behavior won't be allowed.

"It's a shame that has to happen because there are multiple businesses on the Strip where people depend upon that paycheck and those tips to make a living. What these individuals do who come and create chaos is, they're not only hurting themselves, they're hurting others," Maddox said. "But at the same time, we're going to keep this community safe, and I'm very proud of the work that TPD did in partnership with UAPD. And let me just say this too, this is not about A-Day. A-Day is a fantastic event. The people who come into our city are enjoying themselves, enjoying Alabama football. It's just a group of people from outside our city who've decided that's going to be the time that they come and take over T-town."

In addition to closing down the Strip, several parks owned by the city or the Tuscaloosa Park and Recreation Authority were closed Saturday and Sunday - that decision comes after crowds had used places such as Bowers Park and Snow Hinton Park for large gatherings in the past.

Briand Davis, PARA's CEO, said the decision was made in coordination with city leadership.

“The purpose of specific city park closures was PARA working with & helping our city leadership & law enforcement leadership with placing needed officers & Resources in high-demand areas involving large-scale events," Davis said. "These measures were proactive and intended to support both residents and visitors.”

A city spokesperson said the practice will continue for upcoming home football games.

"The Tuscaloosa Police Department worked closely with PARA to ensure the safety of all residents and visitors this weekend. The temporary closure of select PARA and City parks is consistent with our standard practice for home football game weekends," they added. "This approach, informed by public safety issues in parks during large events in the past, allows us to appropriately allocate our resources to high-demand areas."

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