MISSOURI CITY, Texas - As authorities continue to crack down on what is being described as "street takeovers," two teenagers, among four people were arrested overnight Saturday in southwest Harris County.
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Police crackdown on street racing in Missouri City, Texas
As authorities continue to crack down on what is being described as "street takeovers," two teenagers, among four people were arrested overnight Saturday in southwest Harris County. MORE: https://www.fox26houston.com/news/4-arrested-including-teens-following-street-takeover-in-southwest-harris-county
LATEST: Harris Co. law enforcement agencies warn against 'street takeovers'
According to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, deputies with the Illegal Street Racing Task Force, as well as Houston PD found several vehicles performing donuts in the 12500 block of City Park.
Ironically, the business where this happened sells auto parts. One of their employees spoke with FOX 26 anonymously over fears of retaliation saying he’s frustrated with the growing trend.
"Especially for someone who is in the car scene, it’s kind of like a juvenile act," he said. "There’s a huge risk to the public. There’s a huge risk for personal life and property and things like that."
The sheriff said spectators were standing "close by" as drivers did donuts and "some vehicles had passengers sitting on the door outside the window" while they did them. According to security footage obtained by FOX 26, the group was there for less than ten minutes before law enforcement intervened.
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What investigators are saying about several street takeovers in Austin
**EDITOR'S NOTE: The video above is from our first report on street takeovers in Austin, Texas.** It was a wild night on the streets of Austin, putting citizens and police officers in danger.
MORE: Cellphone video shows dangerous illegal street takeover in heart of Texas
As officers began pulling into the scene, two vehicles tried to get away but eventually stopped, Sheriff Gonzalez said. A total of four people were arrested, two of them were teenagers, the youngest being 16.
Street takeovers aren't new to the city of Houston, but their popularity has grown exponentially.
"I would say probably two or three years ago it made its way to Houston, and even something as essential as the Galleria people were taking over intersections in the Galleria area throwing fireworks, all of that kind of stuff. It’s just getting more bold and brazen. I will at least give this one credit for the fact that they weren’t on a public street, but that really doesn’t make it any better," said that employee.
So much so that earlier this week, Harris County officials came together to denounce street takeovers ahead of the TX2K, an annual racing event at the Houston Raceway Park.
SUGGESTED: Street racing spectator run over by 200 mph car, survived
"We know that there will be incidental illegal street racing," said Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg. "We know that some may be planning takeovers, and we want you to know that law enforcement is ready for you."
She says they plan to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law, and that the employee agrees with their move.
"A lot of these guys look like they’re younger guys, and they’re going to have to learn at some point that their actions have consequences that they’re going to have to deal with," Ogg continued.
A total of three vehicles were seized during Saturday's overnight takeover, and the drivers arrested were identified and charged with the following:
- Jordan Cormier, 23 - Deadly Conduct
- Rene Rodriguez, 25 - Deadly Conduct
- Carlos Flores, 18 - Evading Motor Vehicle
- (Name not disclosed) 16 - Evading MV/Deadly Conduct
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No additional details were shared, as of this writing, but an investigation remains underway.