SPRINGFIELD, VA - During the early morning hours on Sunday, March 31st, hundreds of people took over the streets to watch drivers do donuts and drive recklessly at a car meetup. The chaos resulted in one officer injured and a police cruiser damaged.
According to Fox News, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said that the purpose of the gathering was "utter chaos and disorder," and it was dangerous for the first officer who responded to the scene.
At a news conference Davis said, "I believe we narrowly escaped a line-of-duty death scenario of our own because one of our officers was surrounded by a bunch of maksed, tough-guy-wannabe-thugs who surrounded her car, and acted in a criminal manner; In a way that I'll tell you is never going to happen again in Fairfax County."
Body cam footage shows hundreds of people retaliating against the officers for breaking up their 3:00 a.m. gathering.
A press release from Fairfax County police states that, "...The officer found a large group of individuals driving recklessly and in circles. A large group of individuals surrounded the officer's cruiser. At least on attempted to remove the license plate from the vehicle as the others acted disorderly. The group prevented the officer from moving in any direction. They jumped on her cruiser and continuously banged on the windows. It appears at least one man was hanging outside of a vehicle brandishing a rifle."
Dozens of officers responded to assist and eventually the mob of "street takeover" participants began to disperse. Davis said, "So, what does that mean for residential and business communities? It means you didn't have any cops protecting your neighborhoods, your communities, your businesses because these criminals diverted all of our attention to handle an attack on one of our police officers."
He said that the officer inside of the police vehicle "exhibited a ton of grace under pressure in that very volatile scenario."
As of this writing, four people have been charged in connection with the incident. Carlos A. Martinez Jr., 18, was apprehended at the scene and charged with reckless driving after he drove down the wrong side of the road and crashed into a police vehicle. He was released on a summons.
One individual, since identified as 18-year-old Ronal Urrea-Hernandez, struck an officer with their car and then fled the scene. At the time, another officer initiated a vehicle pursuit that did not end with an arrest. Police have obtained a warrant for his arrest for felony hit-and-run, speed to elude and no operator's license. The officer sustained minor injuries and is expected to make a full recovery.
According to police, another suspected wanted is 20-year-old Dylan Heckard, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. He was identified after he posted a selfie making a derogatory hand gesture on social media. His charges reportedly include assault on law enforcement and abduction for jumping on the police cruiser and preventing the officer from leaving.
A 17-year-old is also being charged. That individual has not been identified publicly due to their age. Davis said that the department has created a Civil Disturbance team to identify where these "street takeovers" are planned and respond to the incidents before they become dangerous.
He added, "This is not going to happen again in Fairfax County."
According to Fox News, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said that the purpose of the gathering was "utter chaos and disorder," and it was dangerous for the first officer who responded to the scene.
At a news conference Davis said, "I believe we narrowly escaped a line-of-duty death scenario of our own because one of our officers was surrounded by a bunch of maksed, tough-guy-wannabe-thugs who surrounded her car, and acted in a criminal manner; In a way that I'll tell you is never going to happen again in Fairfax County."
Body cam footage shows hundreds of people retaliating against the officers for breaking up their 3:00 a.m. gathering.
A press release from Fairfax County police states that, "...The officer found a large group of individuals driving recklessly and in circles. A large group of individuals surrounded the officer's cruiser. At least on attempted to remove the license plate from the vehicle as the others acted disorderly. The group prevented the officer from moving in any direction. They jumped on her cruiser and continuously banged on the windows. It appears at least one man was hanging outside of a vehicle brandishing a rifle."
Dozens of officers responded to assist and eventually the mob of "street takeover" participants began to disperse. Davis said, "So, what does that mean for residential and business communities? It means you didn't have any cops protecting your neighborhoods, your communities, your businesses because these criminals diverted all of our attention to handle an attack on one of our police officers."
He said that the officer inside of the police vehicle "exhibited a ton of grace under pressure in that very volatile scenario."
As of this writing, four people have been charged in connection with the incident. Carlos A. Martinez Jr., 18, was apprehended at the scene and charged with reckless driving after he drove down the wrong side of the road and crashed into a police vehicle. He was released on a summons.
One individual, since identified as 18-year-old Ronal Urrea-Hernandez, struck an officer with their car and then fled the scene. At the time, another officer initiated a vehicle pursuit that did not end with an arrest. Police have obtained a warrant for his arrest for felony hit-and-run, speed to elude and no operator's license. The officer sustained minor injuries and is expected to make a full recovery.
According to police, another suspected wanted is 20-year-old Dylan Heckard, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. He was identified after he posted a selfie making a derogatory hand gesture on social media. His charges reportedly include assault on law enforcement and abduction for jumping on the police cruiser and preventing the officer from leaving.
A 17-year-old is also being charged. That individual has not been identified publicly due to their age. Davis said that the department has created a Civil Disturbance team to identify where these "street takeovers" are planned and respond to the incidents before they become dangerous.
He added, "This is not going to happen again in Fairfax County."
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Comments
2024-04-09T18:48-0700 | Comment by: David
"This is not going to happen again in Fairfax County." Uh huh. Shouldn't have happened two weeks ago either.
2024-04-09T19:39-0700 | Comment by: Olympia
Four punks arrested is only a start! At least one hundred more need to be held accountable for attack on police! Not an option!
2024-04-09T19:39-0700 | Comment by: Olympia
Four punks arrested is only a start! At least one hundred more need to be held accountable for attack on police! Not an option!
2024-04-09T19:56-0700 | Comment by: elaine
solution to events like this is to take the guilty persons into custody put them in the road right on the donut marks and execute them... send a real tough message.
2024-04-09T20:26-0700 | Comment by: Mortimer
Let these hot headed punks know that when arrested and JAILED, they lose their licenses for 5 years and their cars will be impounded and SOLD. Nothing less!! I guarantee you'll see half of them show up the next time and only a 4th the next....(as long as they actually SEE the arrests taking place and their cars being impounded and later sold). No mercy to idiots doing this kind of thing!!
2024-04-10T05:23-0700 | Comment by: Andrew
Step 1: start vehicle Step 2: shift to drive Step 3: press accelerator Step 4: mind the speed bumps
2024-04-10T05:26-0700 | Comment by: Jeff
The excessiveness of their actions were to instill fear and terror, therefore, terrorist acts. Officer should have shot them, release no one involved driving…