Hundreds gather at multiple street takeovers in Compton, South L.A. overnight
Los Angeles streets were once again hit by a series of illegal street takeovers late Monday evening and early Tuesday morning.
The first reported instance took place in South Los Angeles at the intersection of 54th Street and Vermont Avenue, where footage from the scene shows people hanging out of cars as they perform doughnuts and lighting fireworks into the crowd as hundreds of spectators stand by.
CBS reporters at the scene Tuesday morning detailed tons of tire marks still covering the intersection.
After Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies broke up the gathering, they converged again just about 10 miles away at Compton Boulevard and Central Avenue.
Deputies reported that no arrests were made in either instance, and no injuries were reported.
They indicated that despite a more concerted effort to monitor areas where takeovers have happened in the past, it's hard to predict where the next will occur.
However, California Highway Patrol officers do their best to warn them when they witness large groups of vehicles getting on or off freeways at the same time.
Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officials detailed that these events have been going on for years, but increased exposure thanks to social media has made them seem to be occurring more frequently.
Both agencies also have dedicated task forces for street takeovers.
"It's insane," said Oswaldo Tonero Jr., a Compton resident. "First off, the maintenance on the vehicles has gotta be out of this world. Tires aren't cheap and the bodily injury that could potentially be caused... why would you do it to yourself?"
He said that he's also been affected by this incidents while working as a bus driver.
"I've literally had to call my dispatcher to call PD to get it dispersed. I've got passengers on the bus that got places to go - it's late at night, they don't want to be stuck in the bus watching all of that," he continued.
Residents have also continued to express concerns about the increasing frequency of these takeovers, indicating that they don't believe law enforcement does enough.
"Unless you put a cop on every corner, there's really not much you can do about it," Tonero said. "If they don't do it at this intersection, they're gonna find another."
The two gatherings were just the latest in a string of street takeovers plaguing Southern California residents, as Compton was hit less than 24 hours earlier at the Wilmington Avenue and Caldwell Street intersection Monday morning.
