UPDATE (10:30 AM): The Bakersfield Police Department said several arrests were made in illegal street takeovers that happened over the weekend and officers were assaulted and had bottles thrown at them.
BPD said officers received reports on Saturday at about 8:42 p.m. about more than 300 vehicles blocking the intersection of Brundage Lane and A Street.
BPD said officers called in more units due to a violent crowd and vehicles drove away in all directions after more police arrived at the scene. BPD said officers tried to stop vehicles but the participants blocked the outnumbered officers.
BPD said at about 9:32 p.m. the group of more than 300 vehicles started blocking the intersection of Mount Vernon Avenue and Columbus Street and officers initially responding to the scene were assaulted, outnumbered, and had bottles thrown at them. After more officers arrived, the crowd started to leave, said BPD.
At about 10:16 p.m., officers responded to reports of a crowd attacking California Highway Patrol vehicles at the intersection of Rosedale Highway at Mohawk Street, said BPD. BPD said a suspected event organizer, Oliver Perry, 23, of Bakersfield, was arrested after being chased on foot.
SGT. ROBERT PAIR OF THE BPD DISCUSSES THE ARRESTS:
BPD said officers found a concealed loaded handgun and Perry was arrested on suspicion of weapons violations, resisting/delaying an officer and charges associated with the take-over. Perry's car was also impounded.
Officers also arrested Danny Hernandez, 18, of Bakersfield on suspicion of charges associated with the take-over and resisting/delaying an officer. Hernandez’s vehicle was also impounded.
At about 11:42 p.m., the group was found at Wible Road at Pacheco Road, said BPD. Officers were assaulted by debris thrown by the crowd, said BPD.
BPD said Xander Moreno, 19, of Bakersfield; Deon Walker, 18, of Clovis; Luis Hernandez, 23, of Fresno; and Jamal Graves, 25, of Fresno were arrested on suspicion of charges associated with the takeover. An officer was also hit by a fleeing vehicle and that investigation is ongoing, said BPD.
At about 12:17 p.m., officers broke up the group which had traveled to Downtown Bakersfield at 17th and M streets, said BPD. A high-speed chase started with a vehicle from the takeover and reached speeds of more than 100 MPH before officers terminated the pursuit due to the danger to other motorists after the driver turned of the headlights and drove in the opposite lane of traffic, said BPD.
The vehicle was followed by a KCSO Patrol Helicopter and was seen crashing in the raised center median of the 8400 block of Oliver Street, said CHP.
Driver Simon Martinez, 20, of Wasco, and the passenger Jose Torres, 19, of Wasco were arrested. Narcotics and several weapons were seized during a search, said BPD.
BPD said they received several reports of motorists being trapped or stopped by the group, including vandalism of vehicles, some of which contained children and assaults of occupants not associated with the criminal group.
Investigations into the identities of participants is ongoing and more arrests are anticipated, said BPD.
Anyone with information regarding these incidents or who was the victim of an unreported crime as a result of these incidents should call BPD at 661-327-7111.
On Saturday, video by 23ABC caught hundreds of people gathering at a Central Bakersfield intersection for an illegal street takeover.
That video showed just one of many that happened that night.
The Bakersfield Police Department was busy over the weekend responding to multiple street takeovers across town just like the one at the intersection of Brundage Lane and A Street.
According to police records, at least two drivers were arrested for blocking a road for a speed contest.
For months now BPD and the CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL have teamed up to conduct joint street racing operations.
Last October, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that local assemblyman Vince Fong proposed in an effort to try and end these events.
