Police make arrests in ‘street takeover’
Updated: Fairfax County police have arrested two suspects and identified others involved in a “street takeover” in an industrial area of Mason District.
Around 3 a.m. on March 31, an officer saw several vehicles pull into a commercial parking lot in the 6600 block of Electronic Drive in Springfield, the FCPD reports. The officer found dozens of young men driving recklessly and in circles.
A large group then surrounded the officer’s cruiser. At least one individual attempted to remove the license plate from the vehicle as the others acted disorderly.
The group prevented the officer from moving in any direction. They jumped on her cruiser and continuously banged on the windows. It appears at least one man was hanging outside of a vehicle brandishing a rifle. Dozens of officers responded from across the county to assist, and the mob of “street takeover” participants began to disperse.
One driver struck an officer who was on foot and then drove from the area at a high rate of speed. The officer sustained minor injuries. Another officer found the vehicle and a pursuit was initiated, but ultimately terminated.
Detectives obtained warrants for Ronal Urrea-Hernandez, 18, of Catonsville, Md., for felony hit and run, speed to elude, and no driver’s license.
Carlos A Martinez Jr., 18, from Woodbridge, was charged with reckless driving after a crash involving a cruiser.
Detectives also obtained warrants for Dylan Heckard, 20, of Mechanicsburg, Pa. He is wanted for abduction, assault on a law enforcement officer, obstruction of justice, and wearing a mask in public.
A 17-year-old Arlington resident will be charged with disorderly conduct and abduction for jumping on the police cruiser and preventing the officer from leaving.
“Street takeovers” like the one in Springfield are happening all over the D.C. region, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said. Groups of car enthusiasts gather in the late night or early morning hours “for the purpose of utter chaos.”
“They do donuts. They drive at high rates of speed,” Davis said, and they endanger the lives of themselves and others. Some of these “bangers,” as they call themselves, had assault-style firearms and reached speeds of over 100 mph as they fled the scene. “One of our own officers was surrounded by a bunch of masked tough-guy wannabe thugs.”
He would like to see state legislation enacted to allow the owners of cars involved in these takeover events to be held accountable, not just the drivers.
Police analysts are working to identify future street takeover events, and the FCPD will send in the civil disturbance unit to deal with the next one.
“This is intolerable in any society,” Davis said. “This is not going to happen again.”
I hope the law comes down hard on these morons.
I agree. We have to respect our Officers who we pay to protect us.
What a bunch of losers
Someone left the barn door open!
Impound the cars, take them to the junkyard and make these losers watch as their cars are crushed into cubes for recycling.
Well well well
Yes sir, the usual.
there was a takeover? cool asl
We should take the pike and plant it there.
Rest assured that none of these miscreants will receive any kind of significant legal consequence from Steven Descano and his gaggle of feckless prosecutors. Rather, all the cases will be quietly adjudicated into nothingness, or the cases will die on the vine. The tacit message from Descano will result in new instances from wrongdoers who realize they can act with impunity.
Seize the cars involved in stuff like this.
Cool beards. I remember when I was 9 years old and 100 lbs.
People buy fast cars to drive fast; people have raced in many capacities since the beginning of time. I think it will be difficult to stop young men (and some women) from testing the limits of their vehicles.
How about we designate race tracks or remote roadways—with traffic cones to keep others from getting involved/hurt—for civilian use at times when they’re not in use? Keep the kids out of residential and commercial neighborhoods and let them have their fun—maybe even charge a fee to cover any expenses incurred from their racing. Have police and ambulance on alert or even in place during these times.
If there’s overwhelming interest, build a venue and charge a fee to participate and a fee to watch, sell overpriced food and drink and collect the taxes. Isn’t this how funny car and NASCAR started?
Maybe cars involved would get stickers to participate. It could be a badge of honor and also a warning to others including police to keep an eye on them when not at designated racing sites.
Street/auto racing isn’t something that has to be accommodated. There are plenty of other options available, and none of them are anywhere near as costly or dangerous. (BTW, this was not any kind of harmless fun.)
If anyone out there wants to race, get on a bike or skateboard, jump into a pool, or lace up your shoes, and GO! You might even get a real life.