Illegal street takeovers are being blamed for attacks on Philadelphia police over weekend that damaged at least five cruisers, injured an officer and involved a participant with a flamethrower.
Incidents happened at around 9:30 p.m. Saturday and again at about 4:30 a.m. Sunday throughout the city, WCAU-TV reports. Police said the incidents involved vehicles performing dangerous activities, such as drifting, street racing, setting off fireworks and starting trash fires.
Police dispersed crowds outside of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and some participants were accused of attacking police and vandalizing cruisers. A police vehicle with a shattered windshield was seen outside City Hall, and another could be seen with slashed tires. At least five police were damaged in the weekend incidents, sustaining windshield and tire damage.
“A few of them were obviously a little more violent,” said Deputy Police Commissioner Mike Kram. “They attacked officers. Threw various things at them. Shot off fireworks.”
At least one participant allegedly used a flamethrower during one of the incidents. One officer suffered minor injuries when his cruiser struck in a hit-and-run crash.
Police arrested two people stemming from the incidents, and officers were looking for a third suspect.
Officials plan to deploy dozens of officers throughout the city next weekend in order to stop a repeat of illegal street activities. Officers will focus their efforts on large gatherings of vehicles and work with the Criminal Intelligence Unit to gather data and learn more about the incidents before they happen.
