CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA Police said Friday that almost 100 people have been charged with crimes related to a string of unlawful street takeovers in Charlotte. Officers dubbed the arrests “Street Takeovers III: The Sequel Nobody Asked For.”
98 People Charged in a Week
Within a week of closing intersections and converting them into temporary racetracks, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) reported that officers had issued warrants for 98 individuals. Police stressed that the takeovers are still dangerous, illegal, and might be shut down right away.
Drivers usually execute burnouts, donuts, and stunts while obstructing traffic during street takeovers, which frequently attract sizable crowds. Participants and onlookers were informed by CMPD that such behavior will not be accepted.
History of Street Takeovers in Charlotte
The arrests are in line with a trend of upsetting incidents during the previous 12 months:
-
March 2024:
Two people were arrested and a bystander was shot when a takeover drew
about 500 vehicles
, including cars from out of state. -
August 2024:
CMPD, with the help of the
N.C. State Highway Patrol
, seized multiple vehicles and issued
20 citations
during a takeover crackdown. -
December 2024:
State troopers arrested
five men and a teenager
, seizing six trucks near
Lake Norman in Mooresville
.
These examples show how unauthorized gatherings, which frequently involve fires, fireworks, and careless driving on public roads, are becoming more and more popular and dangerous.
CMPD Issues Strong Warning
CMPD sent a strong message to anyone thinking about participating in takeovers in the future:
There are repercussions for street stunts! “And we will always be available to remind you of that,” the department stated.
Enforcement will continue, police said, with officers ready to break up parties and hold organizers and drivers responsible.
The Charlotte Observer has additional coverage.
In Charlotte, street takeovers continue to be a significant public safety concern, attracting the attention of law enforcement and legislators. FollowSaludaStandard-Sentinel.com to receive information on community safety and ongoing crime coverage.
