Crime & Courts

98 charged in Charlotte street takeovers. See the sporty cars seized by police.

In just a week, officers drew warrants for 98 people on criminal charges related to another spate of Charlotte street takeovers, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said Friday.

“Street Takeovers III — The Sequel Nobody Asked For,” police titled their post on social media site X, referring to three recent series of charges in connection with clusters of drivers blocking roads.

“Here we are again ... because apparently some folks still think turning intersections into racetracks is a good idea,” police said. “We’re here to remind you — it’s NOT. Still illegal. Still dangerous. Still getting shut down.“

Street takeovers typically involve people blocking traffic at an intersection while cars do burnouts and donuts.

Illegal street takeovers in Charlotte

In March, two people were arrested and a bystander was shot during a weekend of “street takeovers” that drew about 500 vehicles, including from other states, The Charlotte Observer reported.

One of five vehicles seized on Aug. 31, 2024, during a CMPD street takeover event done with the N.C. State Highway Patrol.
One of five vehicles seized on Aug. 31, 2024, during a CMPD street takeover event done with the N.C. State Highway Patrol. Courtesy of CMPD

Drivers joined illegal street races in which people started fires, shot fireworks and performed stunts on public roads, police said at a news conference at the time.

In December, State Highway Patrol troopers arrested five men and a teenager and seized six trucks during a street takeover near Lake Norman in Mooresville .

Those arrests followed 10 street takeover “pop-up events” across Charlotte over a weekend, CMPD said on X.

On Aug. 31, 2024, CMPD officers arrested two people and issued 20 citations in disrupting street takeovers.

Friday, police warned would be street takeover participants.

“Street stunts have consequences!” police said on X. “And we’ll be here to remind you of that, every time.“

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Joe Marusak
The Charlotte Observer
Joe Marusak has been a reporter for The Charlotte Observer since 1989 covering the people, municipalities and major news events of the region, and was a news bureau editor for the paper. He currently reports on breaking news. Support my work with a digital subscription
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