Philadelphia Car Meetups Lead to People Smashing Up Cop Cars

Police in Philadelphia had their hands full over the weekend as they dealt with several street takeovers across the city. According to authorities, between 50 and 200 active participant vehicles took place in events across numerous locations, but the events weren't just limited to cars drifting about and blocking traffic; participants also attacked and damaged the police vehicles, even

NBC Philadelphia reports that officers cracked down on the first event by handing out over 20 citations. That apparently didn't stop people, though, because just before midnight, cops found what they estimated to be 100 cars participating at another meetup.

The city quieted down until around 4 a.m. when officers were attacked as they approached the intersection of Bartram Ave and Island Ave. Video from the scene shows cars drifting while they flee. Officers who drove into the melee wound up with spectators jumping onto their cruiser, hitting and kicking the vehicle.

“A few of them were obviously a little more violent,” Philadelphia Police Deputy Commissioner Mike Kram said. “They attacked officers. Threw various things at them. Shot off fireworks.” At least one person also wielded a flamethrower, he said. The crowd fled when additional officers arrived at the scene. Around half an hour later, according to police, officers found a large group at 15th and Market Street, where more violence occurred; spectators popped police car tires and broke their windshields, according to authorities.

As of this writing, officers have arrested two individuals associated with the events that night, and are searching for a third. It sounds like the Philadelphia police might to employ some different tactics to prevent these street takeovers from getting quite so wild in the future. (A helicopter might help.)

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