Photo: MICHAEL TRAN / AFP / Getty Images
LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Authorities swarmed a street takeover in the South Los Angeles area early Saturday in a large show of force, reportedly issuing dozens of citations and arrests and towing a large number of vehicles.
The response took place around 3:20 a.m. Saturday at the intersection of South Figueroa Street and West Alondra Boulevard, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson said.
Information on how many people were arrested was not immediately provided. Police said no updates were available Saturday morning as the area was still an active scene, but the LAPD scheduled a news conference at the affected intersection at 5 p.m. Saturday, where Police Chief Jim McDonnell was expected to discuss the operation.
Video from the scene shows a massive number of law enforcement personnel at the scene, which appeared to include the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department as well as police.
Other media outlets reported a chaotic scene as police arrived, with people climbing fences and running into yards to evade authorities and some vehicles crashing into each other in an attempt to flee.
"With this being the first night of Labor Day weekend, the LAPD was ready for the takeover that did occur here," City Councilman Tim McOsker told reporters. "Officers shut down the intersection and made sure folks couldn't escape. They have confiscated or are impounding the cars with the official police car garages. Individuals who were driving were booked -- other folks were cited."
" ... We have an apartment building just right around the corner and we have good families and folks who are trying to live their lives. Every single weekend this intersection was taken over by this illegal racing," he added. "So we're sticking up for especially for the families who need to live in our neighborhoods and live in peace."
The illegal gatherings have plagued the county for the last few years but have increased markedly in recent weeks, with some takeovers leading to robberies of nearby retail stores. Until recently most of the takeovers resulted in no arrests, as participants and spectators scatter when police arrive.
Last month, the LASD detailed measures it has launched to combat the wave of street takeovers and associated crimes, saying it was working to "identify and hold organizers and participants accountable through arrests, vehicle impounds, citations and criminal prosecution."
The LAPD has also formed a Street Racing Task Force.