Far Southwest Side Chicago neighbors appalled by street takeover involving ring of fire
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Drivers set fire to a street in Beverly as they drifted and did donuts in the street this past weekend.
Concerned neighbors said organizers of the street takeover even managed to hold off police for a while.
The sounds woke Ken Jones from a sound sleep. A home surveillance camera captured just some of it.
"Squealing tires and roaring engines," said Jones.
People were standing in the middle of a ring of fire as the cars spun around its circumference. That caught Jones and every neighbor living off 103rd Street and California Avenue in Beverly off guard.
"Many cars spinning around like crazy out here in the intersection, and it was lots of people out here watching it too," said Jones. "Just a crazy situation."
More than 100 people with cars took over the intersection on Saturday night. Tire marks were still visible days later.
"But then when I saw the fire?" a woman who lives nearby said. "I was like: 'Oh my gosh, what are they doing? Are they going to burn things down?'"
The crew managed to keep police from getting to their illegal street tactics. They even forced Chicago Transit Authority buses to park.
"You're just literally stuck because there's nowhere for them to go," the woman said. "The bus can't go around and go a different route."
Neighbors said the street takeover crew was not even fazed when police arrived.
"They didn't even flinch. They were still going round and round when Evergreen Park police were here," said the woman. "CPD started coming, and then they just all took off."
Video showed the cars speeding off, and some participants drove on sidewalks and lawns, trying to avoid getting caught.
"Where all the people came from, I can't understand," said Jones.
The street takeovers, or car stunt meetups, remain an ongoing problem across the city and suburbs. They mainly occur in open lots or along Lower Wacker Drive.
"Upsetting," said Jones, "the kind of upsetting that has adrenaline running in you, and you know, you're ready to defend yourself if you have to."
Chicago Police said they did not arrest anyone in the takeover.
