3 arrested in takeover by drivers

Harris County’s traffic crimes unit broke up a 200-vehicle parking lot takeover in west Houston late Saturday that resulted in three arrests as law enforcement continues to grapple with these increasingly massive and dangerous pop-up stunt-driving exhibitions.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Crimes Unit responded to reports of a takeover at 7500 Bellaire Blvd., Sheriff Ed Gonzalez tweeted. He said these exhibitions can materialize in a matter of minutes and quickly draw hundreds of spectators. The takeovers are becoming a bigger problem across Texas, including in Austin, where multiple takeovers erupted last week around the same time, overwhelming law enforcement’s ability to break them up quickly. Many times, the participants scatter and avoid arrest.

Takeovers typically entail drivers blocking off a road or parking lot and using highpowered, customized cars to perform stunts, doughnuts and race in front of an audience. Video clips of these events can become instant sensations on social media, in which squealing cars can be seen performing smoky burnouts and doughnuts dangerously close to throngs of cheering fans.

In total, three arrests were made Saturday night by authorities from the sheriff ’s office and the Houston Police Department. A driver at the takeover had a 13-year-old in his car and was arrested for child endangerment. At least one other motorist was charged with deadly conduct, according to officials.

No vehicles were seized by authorities.

Takeovers like the one on Saturday can be a risk for pedestrians and drivers in the area, Gonzalez said. “Things can quickly go wrong.”

A state task force was launched Thursday to halt events like this where car racers shut down roads in major cities with raucous and unauthorized exhibitions.

Houston police officials said there are nightly noise and traffic complaints about takeovers.

The takeovers can be organized in a matter of minutes, Gonzalez said. And they can break up just as fast.