Los Angeles Police Respond to Street Takeovers

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) took significant action against street takeovers this past weekend, deploying over 150 officers to a chaotic gathering in a residential area around 2 a.m. on Saturday. During this operation, they arrested 69 individuals, issued 570 citations, and impounded more than 200 vehicles.

Additionally, seven firearms were confiscated during the operation labeled “Operation Street Sweeper” in the Harbor Gateway neighborhood of south L.A.

According to reports, the LAPD arrived with buses and tow trucks at an unexpected venue crowded with about 700 people. This effort marks one of the most extensive responses nationwide to these dangerous street gatherings, commonly referred to as “sideshows,” which have troubled not only Los Angeles but several other U.S. cities as well.

Street takeovers, which surged during the COVID pandemic, have posed challenges for law enforcement. Police leaders across the country have been collaborating to develop strategies aimed at curtailing these potentially deadly events.

On Saturday, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell announced the operation’s outcomes, noting that drone technology had assisted in identifying the locations of four separate takeovers that converged into the significant event at South Figueroa Street and West Alondra Boulevard.

The gatherings, often organized online, typically involve cars spinning in circles amid crowds gathered around intersections, creating a chaotic scene enhanced by smoke bombs, fireworks, and lasers, all of which frequently make their way onto social media. There are also instances of nearby looting amid the tumult.

This operation, led by LAPD’s Street Racing Task Force, resulted in the arrest of 66 people involved in or supporting the street racing or takeover. Three more arrests were made for other offenses, including assaulting an officer and obstructing law enforcement.

Alongside the arrests, 570 citations were handed out, with 442 aimed at spectators of the speed contest and 128 for minors found out past the 10 p.m. curfew in Los Angeles. Among those cited, the youngest was just 11 years old.

During the crackdown, one of the impounded vehicles caught fire, according to the chief.

“This isn’t harmless fun. It’s criminal activity. Your children are engaging in an active crime scene, where they can be arrested and seriously harmed,” McDonnell warned. He urged parents to be vigilant about their children’s activities and emphasized the need for serious conversations regarding the risks involved, as a single reckless choice could lead to dire consequences.

McDonnell also announced a new policy going forward, stating, “This operation was just the beginning. If you’re present, we’ll be there as well.”