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An illegal street takeover in Indiana drew more than 500 cars – with some doing dangerous stunts as people hung out the window – and ended with gunfire as cops tried to break up the gathering.
Shocking footage shows the chaos unfolding in Indianapolis, where such takeovers are worryingly on the rise. The unsanctioned events include cars blocking roads and performing tricks.
Over the weekend, the Indianapolis gathering drew cars from five states and video shows the massive crowd in a parking lot watching the stunts.
Police tried to stop the gathering, but it sparked a chase with one car that ended in an officer firing shots and two cops hurt.
‘It’s unwanted by the community and it’s a very dangerous activity,’ Indianapolis police Northwest District Commander Lorenzo Lewis said about the rise in takeovers.
Cops in Indiana were called to help shut down a massive illegal takeover which drew 500 cars from across five states
Video showed drivers doing dangerous stunts as people hung out of windows
Videos released by police from the incident showed the massive size and the dangerous stunts by drivers – many times as people hung out of windows or women twerked as cars did doughnuts.
Smoke could be seen billowing around the tires as cars screech along the road.
Police said drivers had come from New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Vermont for the event. Officers initially turned drivers away from Research Drive, but the motorists used social media to set up new locations on Saturday into Sunday, according to cops.
Around midnight, the situation escalated as cops worked to clear a parking lot in the 2800 block of Lafayette Road, where several vehicles were driving dangerously, Fox 59 reports.
A police officer said when he arrived he heard ‘multiple’ gunshots.
Cops identified a vehicle being driven by Sebastian Jimenez, 23, who they say failed to stop. As police chased, Jimenez fled into a dead-end parking lot. There, he did a U-turn and rammed a police car head on.
Sebastian Jimenez, 23, was charged with a host of reckless driving charges after leading police on a chase
Two police confronted the car, with one officer firing their weapon – though nobody was hurt in the shooting.
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Jimenez then raced south before slamming into another vehicle at an intersection.
He and his female passenger, along with two officers involved in the incident, were treated for minor crash injuries.
Jimenez has since been charged with with battery with a deadly weapon, criminal recklessness and reckless driving.
The unnamed officer who fired their weapon has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation, which is standard procedure.
Several other drivers were issued infractions and other vehicles towed, but now other criminal arrests were made, police said.
Police said drivers had come from New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Vermont for the event
The incident has left Indianapolis police frustrated at the rise in the number of street take overs.
‘They are (happening) illegally,’ Lewis said. ‘They don’t have permits. They don’t have the authorization to hold those events. They don’t have the proper licensing or permits to do that. They illegally block traffic and take over private property that they don’t have permission to be at.’
Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police President Rick Snyder also provided a statement.
‘Indianapolis residents and visitors awaken to another violent attack upon police,’ he said.
‘We are grateful these injured officers were able to be treated and released. Attacks on the women and men who serve our Capital City in police uniform are surging in number and severity.
‘Officers are facing lethal threats from cars, knives, guns and other improvised weapons.
‘We call upon the Marion County Prosecutor to publicly speak out, condemn such attacks and demonstrate a commitment to hold these violent offenders accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
‘Residents are coming to the realization that their community and police are under attack by offenders who do not fear accountability from the Marion County Criminal Justice system.’
Indianapolis police has been called to multiple takeovers this year and has so far made over 40 arrests and confiscated 80 stolen vehicles.
‘You will be arrested. They need to know that. They are going to be held accountable,’ Lewis said.
