Five individuals have been detained by the Miami-Dade Police Department in a crackdown on illegal drag racing that sparked chaos on the streets of Miami-Dade County. In a string of intersection takeovers that began late December, the suspects put the pedal to the metal in what police describe as brazen displays of reckless driving, according to CBS News Miami.
A press release from the Miami-Dade Police Department's Homeland Security Bureau indicated that the investigations into these street racing activities started in early December, with law enforcement conducting two enforcement operations this week. Authorities said the culprits ranged from 18 to 23 years old. According to local reports and arrest affidavits, the series of events involved multiple vehicles blocking traffic while drivers executed dangerous stunts, known as 'doing donuts,' surrounded by crowds of onlookers.
Among those arrested were 21-year-old Jearial Garcia of Margate, who faces charges including aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, and Andres Culp, 18, of Plantation, booked for highway drag racing. Joshua Dalmond, 23, a Miami native, was caught performing vehicular stunts in a hoodless Dodge Charger. Dalmond is said to have shown up at multiple locations to display his audacious driving.
Local reports also recount the arrest of Cameron Lomax, 19, of Miramar, and Chelsy Gamez, 20, of Miami. Lomax faces charges for drag racing and operating a vehicle without a valid driver's license, while Gamez is implicated as passenger involved in highway drag racing. A video on Instagram was key in their identification by the police. The crackdown resulted in 16 citations, an impounded vehicle and gun, and a juvenile curfew violation, as reported by Local 10.
On an occasion, the duo of Garcia and Culp were found carving donuts at the I-75 Park & Ride in Hialeah; a short pursuit ensued when police arrived at the scene.
