Police Answer For Not Responding To Dangerous Driving Incident
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Police in Dallas are speaking out about video of reckless driving that was posted on Facebook recently, showing drivers doing donuts in a south Dallas intersection for nearly 30 minutes with no response from authorities. The video was shot from the corner of Malcolm X Boulevard and Elsie Faye Heggins Street.
During a news conference held Wednesday morning, police would not comment on rumors that there had been arrest made in the case. But officials did send a message that they were taking the situation seriously, as well as other neighborhood concerns in south Dallas.
Police said that they have already taken steps to reduce loitering and nuisance crimes that often follow when crowds gather at intersections on weekends. But officials were not expecting trouble on a Tuesday evening, when the video was posted online as it was happening.
Reckless driving is considered street racing, and a low-priority call.
Authorities need help from residents as well.
"We have to engage our community, our business owners," said Deputy Chief Vernon Hale with the Dallas Police Department at Wednesday's news conference. "As you see in those videos, there are several businesses and vacant lots where people are hanging out, and our community members also take part in helping us come up with solutions, whether that be having folks do criminal tresspass, whether that be fencing or whatever other creative solutions we can come up with together to figure out how to reduce the level of hanging out in those areas."
Hale also stated that a supervisor has now been assigned to monitor the area on a nightly basis.
Dallas police unions claim that officials were late to respond because there are not enough officers on the streets.