Police say they prevented what would’ve been a series of illegal street takeovers last weekend when they arrested 69 people during a sting operation. The authorities issued almost 75 citations and impounded 23 vehicles in the process as well. This incident continues to demonstrate Florida’s hardline against such behavior.
According to Assistant Police Chief Antonio Gilliam of the St. Petersburg PD, the event occurred around 10:45 p.m. on Saturday, April 22nd. That’s when 50 patrol cars swarmed a group in the midst of illegal driving activities in an empty parking lot. Police say that most of those involved were from outside of Pinellas County.
“The results of our operation on Saturday night are absolutely staggering,” Gilliam said. “Sixty-nine people were arrested. Many, if not most, were not even residents of Pinellas County. Those 69 arrests were comprised of 57 misdemeanor arrests and 12 felony arrests. There were 74 citations that were issued.”
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Almost half of the arrests made were of juveniles, police said. Charges included fleeing and eluding, street racing, driving with a suspended license, and obstruction. Two adult parents who brought kids aged 1 and 3 were both arrested on felony child endangerment charges.
“I’m not here to judge anyone’s parenting skills,” Gilliam said, “but … why are you bringing a 1-year-old and a 3-year-old to an event like this? What good can come out of that?” That concern over juveniles and the danger associated with such events come after the death of one such young one in January.
That’s when a 13-year-old boy was struck and killed by a motorcycle at an illegal street race in St. Petersburg, Florida. The boy’s father, who was also in attendance, was charged with felony child neglect.
For those who had their vehicles impounded, Gilliam says that they can be held for up to 30 days while fees continue to grow so long as the owner was driving or occupying the vehicle at the time of the arrest.