What started as a late-night car meet in Brockton ended with a smashed fence, damaged parked cars and a teen in cuffs, after police say a 19-year-old Foxboro man tried to outrun officers in an SUV and then ran off on foot.
Officers reported no injuries after the early Saturday incident, but say the BMW SUV the teen was driving plowed into a fence and two parked vehicles before the brief foot chase ended with his arrest.
According to Brockton police, officers were called to a large car meet in a Belmont Street parking lot around 1:50 a.m. They say the BMW SUV was being driven dangerously through the lot, and when officers tried to pull it over, the driver allegedly refused to stop. The chase continued until the SUV crashed, Boston 25 News reported.
Why Police Break Up Unsanctioned Meets
Unregulated car meets and so-called "takeovers" have a way of spilling out of parking lots and onto public streets, where spinning tires and fast getaways can quickly turn into a headache for neighbors and a hazard for everyone else.
In other cities, law enforcement has been stepping up pressure on these gatherings, treating them as public-safety risks. Crackdowns have included breaking up crowds, making multiple arrests and seizing vehicles when meets get out of hand, according to CBS News New York.
Charges And Investigation
Brockton police identified the arrested driver as Jahsiah Lewish, 19, of Foxboro. He faces charges of failure to stop for police, operating to endanger, three counts of wanton destruction of property over $1,200 and resisting arrest. Police said no one was injured and the investigation is still ongoing, according to Boston 25 News.
Legal Implications
In Massachusetts, an operating to endanger charge falls under state motor-vehicle law and can bring fines, license suspensions and other penalties. Registry of Motor Vehicles guidance notes that reckless-driving convictions often come with suspension periods and reinstatement fees, and junior operator rules can tack on mandatory suspensions for younger drivers, per Mass.gov.
