Worcester police have clamped down on a series of unsanctioned "car shows" that have been taking the city by surprise since the onset of spring this year. The gatherings, promoted through social media, have become a breeding ground for reckless driving and disorderly conduct. According to reports from the Worcester Police Department, these shows have been associated with an uptick in gunshots, property damage, and generally chaotic scenes.

During one such show on July 19, the interim Police Chief Paul Saucier's Summer Impact team swung into action after receiving complaints from local citizens. As officers conducted their patrol, a citizen stumbled upon a bullet casing at New Bond Street, an area known for these large-scale, improvised gatherings. Later that evening, Worcester Police Department was called once again, this time to the now-defunct Dick's Sporting Goods on Lincoln Street, where drivers were putting pedal to the metal in a busy shopping center, leaving behind a labyrinth of skid marks and tire tracks, the Worcester Police Department reported.

The festivities did not end there, as the evening progressed, citizens alerted Worcester Police Department to a major congregation of vehicles at New Bond Street. The responding officers were unable to stop all the speeding vehicles, however, they did manage to document some of the fleeing license plates. Following digital breadcrumbs, the officials discovered online posts that directed show participants to gather at 330 Southwest Cutoff. Relentless, the officers reached the spot close to midnight, recognizing some of the vehicles from earlier incidents, and found roughly 30 cars parked behind a building.

A total of fifty-three people, and one juvenile, faced the music of justice, having been arrested and charged with trespassing. "These types of dangerous gatherings put innocent members of our community at risk and will not be tolerated in the City of Worcester," said interim Police Chief Paul Saucier. In a commendable move, the arrestees' families were allowed to retrieve their vehicles, thereby avoiding the additional burden and expense of towing. The following day officers went the extra mile, inspecting the vicinity of Southwest Cutoff to ensure no firearms were present. This search, a precaution after multiple reports of gunfire during these events, thankfully turned up no weapons, as mentioned by the Worcester Police Department.