Late-night traffic near Schenley Plaza briefly turned into a ring-of-fire car show when a street takeover lit up the intersection of Bigelow Boulevard and Forbes Avenue, leaving burn marks on the pavement and shutting down the road as neighbors filmed from the sidelines.
University of Pittsburgh Police called it a "street takeover" and said they now have a warrant out for Devon Malter, who they allege was behind the wheel of a truck with an American flag on its tailgate and sped off when officers tried to pull him over. Malter is facing a felony charge and, according to investigators, did not have a license. He told Channel 11 he was just being stupid and plans to turn himself in, according to WPXI.
Neighbors React
People who live and work in Oakland say the spectacle was a lot less fun in person than it may look on video. Spectators and drivers crowded the intersection while cars spun burnouts and donuts, and in one clip, a ring of fire appears in the middle of the roadway.
"It's a lot of danger for people outside the car, inside the car, and an unfortunate situation, honestly," one neighbor said. Another neighbor did not mince words, calling the behavior "not cool" and "not worth it," according to WPXI.
Why Takeovers Are Dangerous And How The Law Can Respond
Events like this are exactly the kind of driving that Pennsylvania law flags as reckless. The vehicle code defines reckless driving as operating a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property, a charge that can bring fines and license consequences under Title 75.
Cities and states across the country have struggled with a rise in similar takeovers, sometimes involving rings of fire or injuries, and lawmakers have pushed for stronger tools to impound vehicles and charge organizers. Recent examples include measures such as California AB 74 and policy discussions highlighted in reporting by the Los Angeles Times.
What’s Next
The warrant for Malter remains active while investigators comb through video and other evidence, and he has told reporters he plans to surrender to authorities. Police have not released additional court filings at this time and are asking anyone with footage of the takeover to contact law enforcement.
