NHPD Asst. Chief Manmeet Bhagtana: “A vehicle can become a deadly weapon within seconds.” A task force of police from New Haven and nearby towns arrested 11 people who participated in a weekend street takeover that saw drivers begin racing on Long Wharf Drive and move through the suburbs . Three of those arrests were made by the New Haven Police Department (NHPD), who worked in conjunction with state police, the North Haven Police Department, the Yale Police Department, and the West Haven Police Department. Charges included firearm possession, stolen vehicles, and reckless driving. Police also seized 18 dirt bikes and ATVs (all-terrain vehicles), one truck, and one trailer. “We’ve had enough,” said Mayor Justin Elicker about street takeovers, at a police press conference held at the New Haven Police Academy’s garage at 710 Sherman Ave. on Wednesday. “Street takeovers, dirt bike, ATV riding is not just a quality of life issue, but it is a public safety issue.” The street takeover took place from Friday, Aug. 28 into Saturday, Aug. 29. NHPD Chief David Zannelli said that the police department had received word of the takeover through community tips and by monitoring websites where these events are promoted. The event, billed as an “End of Summer Ride Out,” was expected to draw between 200 and 300 people. The different towns’ police departments began working together as part of a regional task force in 2023 to crack down on illegal street takeovers. In the years since, municipalities have succeeded in advocating for increased fines for those who participate in street takeovers and drive illegal vehicles, and for the ability to seize and crush those vehicles so they can’t go back out on the streets. Because police knew that the street takeover would be happening, the task force members increased their police presence — both uniformed and plainclothes officers — over the weekend. NHPD Asst. Chief Manmeet Bhagtana said that police first observed a group of dirt bikes near the Snack Shack on Long Wharf Drive, and detained and issued a citation to one operator of a Yamaha dirt bike for driving an illegal motorized recreational vehicle (MRV). That dirt bike was seized, along with two other bikes, a Suzuki QuadSport ATV, and a Chevy Silverado that had all been reported stolen. Other towns also seized illegal vehicles. After the street takeover, large groups drove recklessly throughout the city and nearby towns, Bhagtana said. New Haven police made an arrest in the early hours of Saturday after seeing a car driving on George Street with two passengers hanging out of it. The driver attempted to flee police, who are prohibited from chasing after cars. Officers used StarChase and Stop Stick technology to stop the car on I-95. The driver was charged with Failure to Obey an Officer’s Signal, Engaging Police in Pursuit, Interfering with an Officer, Reckless Driving, and two counts of Risk of Injury to a Minor. In a third incident, on Sunday, police arrested a 19-year-old reckless driver performing stunts in the East Shore Park parking lot who hit a pedestrian who was recording and then fled the scene. Zannelli said there was a “good crowd” of people there. The pedestrian, a 30-year-old man, had life-threatening injuries. Police are still determining whether the incident was connected to the initial street takeover. “These incidents serve as a quick reminder for us how this reckless behavior involving vehicles can become life-threatening,” Bhagtana said. “A vehicle can become a deadly weapon within seconds, and any of these decisions can lead to permanently changing someone’s life.” “If you ride dirt bikes and ATVs in our community, we will catch you,” Elicker said at Wednesday’s press conference. “Find another activity that is much more productive for your community. Like painting and art, like playing music.” Some seized dirt bikes were on sight at the police academy garage. While the city intends to crush them, Elicker explained that there is an appeal process that must first conclude. “We can’t crush them tomorrow,” he said. The post 11 Arrested After Weekend Street Takeover appeared first on New Haven Independent. ...read more read less