Philadelphia saw a chaotic weekend as over 200 vehicles took over city streets, engaging in dangerous, illegal activities. The gatherings, described by authorities as unruly and reckless, involved teens participating in drifting stunts, launching fireworks, starting trash fires, and damaging police property.
The mayhem resulted in one injured police officer and five damaged police vehicles.
Videos of the incidents show individuals jumping on police cruisers with officers still inside.
NEW: Over 200 vehicles wreak havoc across Philadelphia over the weekend.
One police officer was injured and 5 police cars were damaged during the illegal gatherings.
Local reports say teens engaged in “dangerous behaviors” like drifting their cars, launching fireworks, starting… pic.twitter.com/2gFnnL8eV6
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 23, 2024
Philadelphia Deputy Commissioner Mike Cram voiced his frustration, noting the participants seemed more focused on causing as much chaos as possible rather than considering their own or others’ safety. “They don’t care about your safety, their own safety. It’s just about how much chaos we can cause,” he said.
Despite police efforts, which included issuing citations and making a few arrests, the size and scope of the gatherings made it difficult to fully control the situation. This incident is part of a growing trend of dangerous street takeovers happening in cities across the U.S., raising concerns about public safety and law enforcement’s ability to handle such large, spontaneous gatherings.
