Over the weekend, Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officers took to the streets to deter and disrupt large-scale illegal automotive gatherings, commonly referred to as street takeovers. In their strategic response on Saturday night, PPB preemptively targeted these events and conducted traffic stops for violations. According to an official release from the PPB, law enforcement made 37 traffic stops, and during the operation, six drivers attempted to elude authorities, which resulted in one traffic pursuit.
The sweeping effort saw numerous arrests and car towings as PPB sought to clamp down on the dangerous gatherings. Among the arrested, charges ranged from Reckless Driving to Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Officers also wrote 32 traffic citations and had nine vehicles towed, one of which is subject to criminal forfeiture. Moreover, four firearms were seized during the interventions—an aggressive stance that PPB has taken to curb the prevalence of weapons at these unlawful assemblies.
In total, seven people ended up in custody, as PPB aimed to bring a halt to the street chaos. According to the report, the suspects’ list of alleged offenses was extensive, with crimes including but not limited to Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Attempt to Elude Police by Vehicle, and Driving While Suspended. Highlighting the gravity of the situation, the PPB underscored the possession of loaded firearms in public spaces as a particularly concerning element that was addressed during their crackdown.
