Three Arrested at Austin’s Domain After Swatch x Audemars Piguet Watch Drop
A highly anticipated watch release turned chaotic at The Domain in Austin on Saturday, resulting in police intervention and multiple arrests.
The Austin Police Department arrested three people for criminal trespassing after officers were called to disperse a crowd that had gathered outside a Swatch store at the popular north Austin shopping center.
The cause of the frenzy? A collaboration between Swatch and luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet, which featured eight pocket watches priced between $400 and $420.
People began showing up at the store as early as 4 a.m., hours before the store’s scheduled 10 a.m. opening, and the situation quickly deteriorated into arguments and fighting.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic. “There were some really tense moments. There was a couple shoving, a couple arguments, a couple of almost fights,” said Ruben Mendoza, who was present when the crowd was told the store would not open.
Officers responded to the scene, issuing multiple commands for the crowd to leave. Those who failed to comply were warned they would be arrested for criminal trespass — and three individuals were. The scene was cleared by 8 a.m., and no injuries were reported.
Austin was not alone. Similar scenes unfolded at Swatch stores across the U.S. and other countries, with large crowds drawing police responses at multiple locations.
In suburban Detroit, two people were cited for trespassing, while near Philadelphia, someone was arrested after crowds broke down doors before a mall opened.
Swatch addressed the chaos on social media, announcing that many store locations would close for the day due to safety concerns, and reminding fans that the product would remain available for some time.
Sources:
- KXAN Austin: https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/3-arrested-after-austin-police-disperse-crowd-at-the-domain-swatch-store/
- FOX 7 Austin: https://www.fox7austin.com/news/swatch-ap-watch-collab-gets-massive-crowds-police-respond-multiple-stores
- Austin American-Statesman via Yahoo News: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/popular-swatch-watch-drop-causes-194911048.html
- Fox San Antonio: https://foxsanantonio.com/news/local/three-arrested-at-the-domain-after-apd-dispersed-crowds-gathered-at-swatch-store
Austin police are investigating several shootings in the area Saturday evening that seem to be connected. They are actively looking for a male suspect.
A crash around 2:30 a.m. Sunday in northwest Austin left one person dead.
As a result of the investigation, police shut down all northbound Research Boulevard lanes, just north of Braker Lane.
Austin ISD parents and teachers are worried that larger classroom sizes could impede learning at area schools.
Superintendent Matias Segura is asking for patience as the board considers staffing cuts and other measures.
In the Texas GOP U.S. Senate race, Senator John Cornyn and challenger Ken Paxton plan to hit the road. Cornyn is kicking off a multi-city tour on Monday starting in Austin. (FOX 7 Austin)
The Republican runoff election for Williamson County Precinct 2 commissioner will effectively decide who replaces longtime Commissioner Cynthia Long, with no Democrat on the November ballot. Jeff Mayes, a political newcomer, faces former Leander City Council Member David McDonald in the May 26 election. (Austin American-Statesman)
A 14-year-old boy who was last seen on Tuesday at his mother’s home in Round Rock has been located.
Austin’s airport is expecting higher-than-usual passenger traffic today.
CapMetro reports progress on the North Burnet/Uptown Rail Station.
WEATHER
SATURDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
Multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms could unleash tornadoes, destructive winds, giant hail and flash flooding across the Plains and Midwest through the early week. (AccuWeather)
Firefighters are making progress in the Texas Panhandle, where the number of major active wildfires has been reduced to just two — the Hunggate Fire in Randall County and the Comanche Fire in Motley County — as crews continue battling to bring both blazes under full containment.
Members of Travis County ESD 1 assisted with the Hunggate and Chocolate Chip Fires in Randall County.
Governor Greg Abbott announced that FEMA has approved his request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant for the Hunggate Fire in Randall County.
Incumbent Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy placed third in his state’s U.S. Senate GOP primary on Saturday with 25% of the vote, behind Rep. Julia Letlow at 45% and state Treasurer John Fleming at 28%, setting up a June 27 runoff between them.
The rare ouster of a GOP senator—the first in 14 years—has energized Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton‘s runoff against Sen. John Cornyn on May 26, with activists like Scott Presler linking it to pressure on Senate Majority Leader John Thune over the stalled SAVE Act for voter citizenship proof.
A recent University of Houston poll shows Paxton leading Cornyn 48%-45% among likely GOP runoff voters, as early voting starts Monday amid tight turnout expectations.
President Trump said he may still make an endorsement in the U.S. Senate race.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz says the midterms will be “a real fight”.
Republicans appear to have come out on top of a national fight over congressional maps, in what could be a major boon to their efforts to protect their narrow majority ahead of the midterm elections in November.
In recent weeks, the Supreme Court’s decision to gut a significant part of the Voting Rights Act led to new efforts in several Republican states and a decision from Virginia’s highest court blocked a new Democratic-friendly plan voters had approved.
The developments mark a major shift in Republicans’ favor in the battle that President Donald Trump and his party launched last year. It had previously appeared headed towards a virtual draw, with Democratic states all but canceling out Republican redraws.
As Texas races to become the largest data center market in the world, another side effect of the boom is beginning to draw scrutiny: relentless noise pollution. (Houston Chronicle)
In San Antonio, two children were found dead in a vehicle Friday morning. Police say the children are 5 and 7 years old. Investigators say the mother has charged.
A body was found Saturday in Greens Bayou along the East Freeway (I-10) near Houston.
Banned license plates in Texas.
The threat is only dozens of miles from Texas’ southern border. And if it takes hold, it could lead to an economic loss in the billions. The New World Screwworm (NWS) seeks out wounded animals, but could also infest our pets, even hunters. In this episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons learn about the steps Texas leaders are taking to keep the pests out of Texas, and the plan to deal with it when it crosses the border. And a Texas rancher with hundreds of head of cattle explains what’s keeping him up at night.
The guys run through the Texas Supreme Court’s decision not to eject state Rep. Gene Wu from his seat, a leaked recording of Ken Paxton about the attorney general race, and the bevy of committee hearings that played out in the Legislature.
(Episode from May 16, 2026)
Singer, songwriter, and poet Manzy Lowry, a Texas musician who describes himself as a “storyteller with a rock band.” He about his career, influences, and the challenges of being true to himself as an artist.
West Nile Virus has been detected in Dallas and Tarrant counties for the first time this season.
SPORTS
MLS: Austin FC fans are frustrated and unhappy.
Austin FC fell in a 2-1 defeat to Sporting KC on Saturday night at Q2 Stadium. (Austin FC)
(Episode from May 15, 2026)
ON THE SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, MAY 23
COLLEGE BASEBALL: In its regular season finale, No. 6 Texas notched a sweep-securing 12-7 win over Missouri at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Saturday afternoon.
With the victory, the Longhorns (40-12, 19-10 SEC) registered 40 wins in back-to-back regular seasons for the first time since 2010-11. (Texas Longhorns)
Texas, which earned the No. 2 seed in the 2026 SEC Baseball Tournament, begins postseason play at 3 p.m. Friday. The Longhorns will face seventh-seeded Arkansas, 10th-seeded Tennessee or 15th-seeded South Carolina in their second-ever game at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL: Junior RHP Teagan Kavan and sophomore RHP Cambria Salmon combined for a two-hit shutout to propel No. 3 Texas Softball (44-10) to a 9-0 (six innings) win vs. Wisconsin (33-20) Saturday afternoon at McCombs Field. It was Texas’ 20th run-rule win of the year.
With the win, Texas advances to Sunday’s NCAA Austin Regional Final at 12 p.m. CT vs. Baylor. Texas is 2-0 against the Bears this season.
MLB: The Houston Astros may be struggling more than the Texas Rangers, but it’s the Astros who have won the intrastate weekend series.
Yordan Alvarez hit his 15th homer and the Houston Astros matched a season high with four longballs in a 4-1 win over the Rangers on Saturday night that left Texas’ Jacob deGrom stuck at 99 career wins. (Associated Press)
SERIES FINALE TODAY
AL WEST STANDINGS
The San Antonio Spurs advance to the Western Conference Finals and look ahead to their matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The crew breaks down San Antonio’s poise, guard play, defensive maturity, and why this young Spurs team may already be a real threat to challenge the defending champs.
The Chaparrosa Ranch, owned by Alberto Bailleres for more than 30 years, was purchased with the intent of keeping a large portion of South Texas open and in production agriculture while supporting a large and diverse wildlife population.
The ranch has a thriving cattle operation, despite a decade’s long drought, that has been utilized to fund management efforts to manipulate forage to best support quail, turkey and white-tailed deer habitat. A comprehensive brush control program utilizing mechanical and chemical methods helps maintain brush diversity for wildlife while keeping pastures open to support cattle.
Intensive record keeping has resulted in a data set of over 30,000 harvested white-tailed deer showing changes over time with management and the effects of range conditions to help inform decision making in the hunting operation. The installation of 13 new water wells in the last 10 years, along with dozens of miles of water line, ensures that the ranch keeps wildlife and livestock well distributed to avoid range or habitat overuse.
