A late-night street takeover in South Los Angeles came to an abrupt end early Saturday when a large-scale LAPD operation closed in on the crowd, with dramatic drone video capturing hundreds of people rushing to flee as officers sealed off the area.
Authorities said more than 700 people had gathered for the illegal event near South Figueroa Street and West Alondra Boulevard at about 2 a.m.
This time, however, law enforcement appeared to be waiting.
The Los Angeles Police Department told the California Post that a tactical alert was issued at 3:21 a.m., bringing more than 150 officers into the operation. Police said the crackdown resulted in 69 arrests, 570 citations, 200 vehicle impounds and the recovery of seven firearms.
Video from above showed the tense scene unfolding as officers moved in around the intersection, forcing attendees to weave between vehicles while searching for an escape route.
Tow trucks were also waiting nearby to haul away vehicles caught up in the massive bust.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said the operation, dubbed “Operation Street Sweeper,” was months in the making, per ABC7.
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Investigators used intelligence gathering and drone technology to anticipate the locations of four separate street takeovers, allowing officers to move in before participants could simply scatter and disappear.
“This is not harmless fun. This is criminal behavior,” McDonnell said during a press conference announcing the arrests. “Your children are participating in an active crime scene where they are lawfully subject to immediate arrest and exposed to harm.”
A resident who lives just steps from the intersection, Maple Patton, told the outlet the chaos sounded like an explosion.
“I’m thinking, ‘Did a bomb go off?!’” Patton said. “Every weekend, they’re taking over, and I’m thinking, ‘We gotta do something to stop this.’”
The operation also involved Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies and California Highway Patrol officers.
At least one impounded vehicle caught fire during the operation, McDonnell said.
Street takeovers have become an ongoing scourge across Los Angeles County, with authorities warning that the gatherings can fuel dangerous driving, violence and other crimes. Some recent events have also been linked to robberies at nearby businesses.
The Sheriff’s Department has pledged to target not only spectators but organizers and participants through arrests, citations, vehicle impounds and criminal prosecution.