Chicago's New Year's celebrations took a dangerous turn in the Loop as a "street takeover" resulted in two arrests and a near miss for local cops. According to CWB Chicago, vehicles were caught on video spinning donuts at the intersection of Wacker and Franklin, attracting a crowd of 60 spectators and bringing traffic to a halt in the early hours of the morning.
One of the vehicles, an Infiniti, narrowly missed hitting an officer who, with a partner, attempted to use stop-sticks to immobilize the car. The footage, recorded on the Citizen app, depicts the car speeding away from the scene and onto the Kennedy Expressway, where police gave chase before calling off the pursuit at Armitage. The driver remains at large.
Meanwhile, NBC Chicago reported that residents of the area expressed concern and shock over the reckless driving, which left black marks on the pavement and posed significant danger to pedestrians. "I am out here walking most days, and I think that should be controlled," one resident, Jeff Doane, shared in a statement.
Ald. Brian Hopkins, who represents the city's 2nd Ward, labeled the incident as part of a "disturbing trend," suggesting that there was an intent to harm when the car nearly hit an officer. "That’s nothing less than attempted murder", Hopkins told NBC Chicago. Police managed to arrest two individuals and impound one car, yet the primary perpetrator evaded immediate justice. Chicago has enacted ordinances targeting illegal street racing, but the effectiveness of these measures is under scrutiny following the stunt.
Despite a significant police presence, as Ald. Hopkins acknowledged, the authorities found themselves quite literally outmaneuvered. Allison Stiefel, a resident of the affected area, noted the police efforts to patrol, saying, "I see them doing their job... but feel they are stretched thin and possibly outnumbered," in her interview with NBC Chicago. The incident adds to the ongoing challenges that the police face in curbing illegal automotive antics in the city.
