Portland police broke up at least six attempted street takeover events early Sunday morning.
Among 47 traffic stops overnight Saturday into Sunday morning, police arrested 11 people and towed 10 vehicles. Some vehicles were lost to asset forfeiture, meaning the drivers lost the car permanently by participating in street racing. Most takeovers were broken up in minutes, police said in a news release.
A yellow Mustang car is impounded near the intersection of Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Northeast Columbia Boulevard after being involved with a street takeover, according to the Portland Police Bureau, in Portland, Ore., on Aug. 4, 2024.
Courtesy of Portland Police Bureau
On Sunday afternoon and evening, police made dozens of additional traffic stops but did not see any significant street takeovers. According to a press release issued Monday morning, officers towed seven more vehicles and arrested four more people.
Police had been anticipating a large street racing event this weekend called the West Coast Invitational, with participants gathering from across the Pacific Northwest. Last year’s event led to multiple arrests and injuries.
No injuries were reported Saturday or Sunday. But two people died Friday night when a car crashed after fleeing Gresham police in Northeast Portland.
Related: Large street racing event anticipated in Portland this weekend, police warn
Street takeovers and racing have been on the rise across the country in recent years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. They typically involve groups of cars blocking off an intersection, while others perform dangerous stunts and burnouts.
Authorities in the Portland metro area have attempted to curb the problem in recent years, although it’s still unclear to what effect.
