Multiple Arrests and Citations Issued For Street Takeovers Last Night
by Alex Lloyd Gross
A street taker is when a bunch of cars block a street , a crowd gathers and then other cars do burnouts, donuts or other reckless acts of defiance. At times, people will hang out of car windows while the car is doing a donut. At times people have been hurt or killed. Last night, police responded to four such incidents all over the city.
- 9:30 p.m. — 74XX Bustleton Ave: Approximately 50 cars were involved. Officers issued 9 citations under the Nuisance Car Ordinance and 15 citations to spectators. One driver attempted to evade police by driving directly at officers, colliding with a civilian vehicle in the process. The driver has been identified, and a warrant has been issued for their arrest.
- 11:47 p.m. — 20th and Pattison Ave: Over 100 vehicles were reported drifting and engaging in reckless driving. Two individuals were arrested after fleeing from police and crashing into a pole. Both are residents of neighboring communities.
- 4:00 a.m. — Island and Bartram Ave: A group of over 200 cars was involved in drag racing and drifting. Officers were attacked, and a police vehicle (RPC 12A) was damaged. The crowd dispersed when additional police units arrived.
- 4:33 a.m. — 15th and Market: More than 100 cars were reported drifting and setting rubbish fires. Officers were attacked, resulting in damage to multiple police vehicles, including broken windshields and flattened tires.
Police issued a statement about the incidents which reads in part, below.
“Unfortunately, law enforcement cannot prevent all of them, and even when we have the information, safely stopping the events in their tracks is not immediately feasible due to risks to officer and citizen safety.
To those participating in this activity: do not think for a moment that you got away with it and that you will not be held accountable. There are cameras everywhere, there is a considerable amount of evidence to go through, PPD will use that evidence to make arrests when warranted”.