Summary::
San Antonio Police Chief William McManus addressed the current street racing trend after the incidents that occurred in Austin last weekend. Austin Police are investigating several “street takeovers” that had crowds throwing rocks and bottles at officers on Saturday, February 18. Austin Police said they responded to four different “street takeovers,” which is when a large.
Details::
According to Priscilla Aguirre,
San Antonio Police Chief William McManus addressed the current street racing trend after the incidents that occurred in Austin last weekend. Austin Police are investigating several “street takeovers” that had crowds throwing rocks and bottles at officers on Saturday, February 18.
Austin Police said they responded to four different “street takeovers,” which is when a large group of cars takes over intersections or parking lots, and, in most instances, don’t race at all. “Street takeovers” involve cars that will perform donuts, burn-outs or other displays of speed and acceleration.
Officials said an officer with the Austin Police Department was injured in the street racing incident, according to CBS Austin. The cars involved blocked out a major intersection in Austin, near Barton Springs Road and South Lamar Boulevard. Two people were arrested for allegedly evading arrest as the investigation is ongoing.
In San Antonio, McManus acknowledged how the street racer and takeover groups have been all over the city in the past couple of weeks. In a tweet on Monday, February 20, the police chief said the incidents have ended in numerous arrests, citations, and gun and vehicle seizures.
“This kind of activity is dangerous and disruptive. Check out what happened in Austin,” he tweeted.
Earlier this year, SAPD responded to a “street takeover” that resulted in a shooting and a four-car crash on Interstate 10 on January 15. According to police, several vehicles blocked off I-10 near Callaghan Road before doing donuts. Police said at least one person shot a gun. When officers started to arrive, vehicles began leaving at high rates of speed. As a result, four cars crashed, SAPD said.
After the takeover, SAPD released a statement that the department is aware of the incidents that involve street racers. The department is asking the public to report the activities to the police.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the “street takeovers” drastically surged where drivers met up and blocked traffic. It was noticed by local and state leaders. Texas laws passed in 2021 shift illegal street racing from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor.
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