On any given Sunday night in Portland, there may be hundreds of spectators and cars shutting down parking lots and intersections in street racing spectacles. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. I am pleased no one was harmed last night when the suspect crashed into a police vehicle.. PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) - Portland police responded to numerous calls about illegal street racing over the weekend. A year after enacting an emergency ordinance aimed at cracking down on street racing and takeovers, Portland still struggles to contain the illegal events, which can draw hundreds of spectators who block major roads, including Interstate 84, the Burnside Bridge, the Sunset Highway Tunnel and the Fremont Bridge, endangering participants and bystanders. "Although it is the goal of the Portland Police Bureau to answer calls for service as soon as possible after they are dispatched, street racing incidents are typically large crowd control events requiring a large number of officers," Sheppard said late Sunday night. When KGW reached out to police Sunday night about the event, Portland Police Bureau (PPB) Lieutenant Nathan Sheppard said officers were not responding to street racing Sunday night because they were responding to shootings, including one in Southeast Portland that left a man dead, and other "life/safety calls.". OPBs critical reporting and inspiring programs are made possible by the power of member support. The bureau has 114 fewer sworn officers today than it had in 2020, according to its staffing data. . There were reports of "drifting" cars, fireworks, large amounts of smoke and people sitting and standing on the roofs of nearby businesses, including a nearby donut shop. William Torresan was arrested on numerous charges. These crimes are punishable with up to 1 year in jail, 5 years of probation and/or a fine up . Officers found hundreds of people leaving what they say appeared to be another illegal race. In a statement, he said, "I urge street racers to stop this activity immediately. The ordinance would impose a maximum 6-month jail sentence and a $500 fine for each violation, unless its a persons first offense. Portland city commissioners passed an ordinance a couple of years ago to make street racing and street takeovers a crime, with up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine. No other such life safety calls arose and eventually the crowd dissipated.. Since then, Portland police have partnered with the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office and Oregon State Police on multiple speed racing missions. Mayor Ted Wheeler said in a written statement that the city has seen success, noting that Portland police have made 21 arrests, conducted 50 traffic stops, confiscated three guns and towed 10 vehicles associated with illegal street racing. It is doing the best we can with the resources we have, and those resources are only available depending on the time, day and place of events.. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Reference: Police respond to rampant illegal street racing over the weekend in Portland Portland police broke up the latest dangerous event and made one arrest, but the intersection was blocked and tires were spinning for at least an hour. However, they stopped to render additional aid to Taylor at 15 Northeast Broadway. You can lose your vehicle on the spot as well as thousands of dollarsfast! Under current rules Portland has 18 speed cameras. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. According to a press release provided by Kingston Springs Police Officer Capt. Sign up to get important news and culture from around the Northwest, delivered to your inbox six days a week. Police respond to rampant illegal street racing over the weekend in Portland, Another close call with lowland snow Saturday morning, but most of us see nothing once again, Deputies investigating deadly crash in Salem, 1 injured in shooting near downtown Portland, 1983 murder case of Washington Co. woman closed after 40 years, Suspect arrested in death of well-known Longview restaurant owner, Mask requirement in Oregon, Washington health care settings to be lifted April 3. And a motorcyclist died in Portland, Oregon, in April from an alleged racing-related . The group said they are frustrated with the dangerous practice of street racing in the industrial areas of North Portland., The practice of street racing in our neighborhoods on city streets continues unabated without any compliance or enforcement, the letter read. LOS ANGELES REELING FROM WEEKEND OF DANGEROUS STREET TAKEOVERS, RACING AS POLICE CRACK DOWN, Cameron Taylor, 20, died of a gunshot wound in what Portland police are calling a homicide. In light of namesakes racist history, Portland Audubon searches for new name, Body of skier killed in avalanche in Central Oregon recovered, Snow in Portland on Saturday? Pashley said that while the Oregon State Police has helped Portland police in the past with street racing, hes not aware of any current plans or collaborations. Senate Bill 615, introduced by Sen. Chris Gorsek (D-Troutdale), is currently in committee with no hearings scheduled yet. ", In April, PPB said it was going to crack down on illegal street racing after numerous street "takeovers" in recent years. You may also be committing crimes of0RS 811.140Reckless Driving (a Class A Misdemeanor) andORS 163.195Recklessly Endangering Another a Person (a Class A Misdemeanor). Video surveillance shows cops firing after Robert Connelly pulled a gun on them, leading to a hostage situation that ends peacefully, Portland and DOJ Clash Regarding Police use of Force, Premium Cultivars Are Giving Customers Wider Access To The Most Hyped Strains, Joanna Danielle Olsen Talks How to Succeed in Business for Over 25 Years, Norfolk Southern workforce falling ill at the crash site, Where You Can Find The Best Wild Burger In Denver, Now Relation Between Will Smith And Chris Rock After Oscar Incident. Building, transportation, maintenance, and sewer projects. Murders, shootings, and street racing events thinned police over the weekend, preventing them from taking action against street racing events. Speed Racing is a Class A traffic violation. But its unclear how the city would enforce such a code. We are concerned for the safety of our employees. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Dispatchers told a woman who called 911 that an ambulance would be delayed due to parked cars, KGW reported. Sam Adams, a senior advisor to Wheeler, said the ordinance would be an important though imperfect first step toward cracking down on the events. One dispatcher told him they were having a busy night, but to call back if he heard anyone screaming for help, he said. They are threatened and harassed and put into dangerous situations just so they can provide for their families., The mayors ordinance proposes a revision to city code and asks City Council to approve two different misdemeanor offenses for street racing or sliding labeling them Unlawful Street Takeover and Unlawful Staging of a Street Takeover Event.. PORTLAND, Ore. (KGW) A bill in the Oregon Senate aims to increase maximum jail time and fines for people found guilty of organizing street-racing events. PORTLAND, Ore. Drivers taking part in illegal street racing and stunting blocked off several roads and intersections in Portland on Sunday night. --Savannah Eadens; seadens@oregonian.com; 503-221-6651; @savannaheadens. Were doing everything we can with what weve got, we are asking for help and were taking tougher actions against those who are caught.. In August of last year, the Portland City Council voted in favor of a new ordinance that would ban street racing. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. But multiple factors including that some of the participants are armed with guns make it difficult for officers to respond. Feb 27, 2022; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Team Penske driver Scott McLaughlin (left) of New Zealand takes the champions trophy from US Olympic Gold Medalist Erin Jackson (right . Senate Bill 615, introduced by Sen. Chris . Despite the move, the problem . A 20-year-old was killed in Portland on Sunday during a shooting that occurred during an illegal street racing takeover, authorities said. These crimes are punishable with up to 1 year in jail, 5 years of probation and/or a fine up to $6,250. We are in a response mode more than in a deterrent mode or prevention mode, Pashley said. An illegal street takeover had transformed the intersection of Northeast Sandy Boulevard, 72nd Avenue and Fremont Street from a commercial stretch to a dangerous speedway. Since 2015, at least seven people have been killed in street-racing related incidents, and more injured including an 11-year-old boy injured by gunfire in March and an 18-year-old woman in a coma after being hit by a racer in 2018. Police said a witness reported seeing someone shooting from their vehicle. It took a couple of minutes to notice that the whole intersection was blocked with cars just spinning cookies. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). But Wheeler publicly pushed back at a similar assertion by Police Chief Chuck Lovell at an Aug. 31 city council session, when the mayor let an expletive fly after Lovell said low police staffing was keeping officers from adequately responding to street racing and other crime. Jordan Murphy was out walking his dog Artie and had to detour to get home Saturday. A 2018 Oregonian story on street racing found that four people were killed in Portland street racing-related incidents from 2015 to 2018. A man who had gone to watch the street takeover Aug. 28 at the intersection of Northeast 72nd Avenue and Sandy Boulevard was attacked and knocked unconscious after trying to film the commotion with his phone, witnesses told KGW. Portland needs a break from this reckless insanity. Cameron Taylor was at the event on Marine Drive over I-5 in the Eliot neighborhood when gunfire erupted just before 11 p.m., the Portland Police Bureau said Wednesday. The cars were lined up five to six cars deep on each side of the intersection, making it difficult for anyone to pass. According to police, investigators believe both drivers were involved in speed racing. Police say the area where this happened has seen a wave of street racing activity in recent years. You may also be committing crimes of 0RS 811.140 Reckless Driving (a Class A Misdemeanor) and ORS 163.195 Recklessly Endangering Another a Person (a Class A Misdemeanor). Twenty-four-year-old William Torresan was arrested on numerous charges, including felony elude, reckless driving, criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and a variety of traffic violations, including not having a valid drivers license, for the incident on Sunday, according to the Portland Police Bureau. Some experts speculate that people are eager to show off the cars theyve been working on during the pandemic, and that social media platforms have made it easier than ever to draw a crowd. Speed racing is a violation of ORS 811.125 and carries a presumptive fine of $435. Police havent made any arrests. It's a possibility, Violent weekend in Portland: Officers respond to 3 homicides, 7 other shootings, shootings, including one in Southeast Portland that left a man dead, a new ordinance that would ban street racing, Portland police plan crackdown on illegal street racing (April 2022), Portland City Council passes ordinance outlawing street racing with $500 fine, possible jail time. The events sometimes happen in multiple locations at once KGW reported three separate takeovers on Aug. 28, for example and they draw hundreds of people in cars that block the roads, making them nearly impossible to reach, Sheppard said. Officials say it caused roadblocks and incidents that involved multiple people being shot. Raised rates, reductions in coverage or even cancellations are possible. The on-duty supervisors made the difficult decision to respond in the event there was a specific threat to life safety, beyond the risky behavior people were engaging in at that intersection, Pashley said. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. A News Anchored Network Publication. Officers are currently working through several life/safety calls and there are not enough available to safely address the calls regarding street racing. They released a statement saying they were planning and gathering resources to conduct regular enforcement missions.. All rights reserved. And back in Northeast Portland, Nguyen said he has seen this before. 7 arrested after illegal street racing in Portland, -Interference with a Public Safety Officer, Another close call with lowland snow Saturday morning, but most of us see nothing once again, Deputies investigating deadly crash in Salem, 1 injured in shooting near downtown Portland, 1983 murder case of Washington Co. woman closed after 40 years, Suspect arrested in death of well-known Longview restaurant owner, Mask requirement in Oregon, Washington health care settings to be lifted April 3. The City of Portland, the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Portland Police Bureau have an obligation to the safety of those who live in, work in, and visit our city. Portland officers arrested seven people allegedly involved in illegal street racing on Sunday night.Story: https://bit.ly/3HohReuSubscribe: https://www.youtu. Portland police say an 18-year-old and a 17-year-old were arrested in connection to the incident that happened on north Going Street. Monday night four people were injured when bullets started flying during a street race gathering. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Medics pronounced Taylor dead at the scene. Portland is beefing up penalties for those street racers who shut down intersections and roadways and speed around city streets, following a City Council vote on Wednesday. Drivers have blocked off roads to race and to etch donut patterns on pavement with the tires of their souped-up cars.Anna Spoerre /The Oregonian via AP. Portland Police did not respond to that gathering, Lt. Greg Pashley, a spokesman for the bureau confirmed. It's tailor-made for doing one thing: going fast in a car. After Taylor was struck, he was rushed away from the scene in a private vehicle, police said. Police say the woman struck and killed by an apparent street-racing accident in Portland Aug. 27 had been waiting at a bus stop. On Sunday night, there weren't enough available officers to safely respond to street-racing calls, he said. 999 West Sunshine Street; Springfield, MO 65807 (417 . Business owners in North Portland sent Mayor Ted Wheeler and city commissioners a letter April 2 demanding a crackdown on street racing. Posted Tue, Jun 14, 2022 at 11:32 am PT. 13, 2022 at 2:11 PM PDT. PORTLAND, Oregon ( KPTV) Neighbors are speaking out after an illegal street racing event blocked a northeast Portland intersection for about three hours Sunday night. Many more were injured during that time period, including an 18-year-old girl who was in a coma after being hit by a racer. Speed Racing is a Class A traffic violation. Nothing is getting done., Catalina Gaitn; cgaitan@oregonlive.com; @catalinagaitan_, Our journalism needs your support. Market data provided by Factset. Over the weekend, several people were killed near illegal street racing takeovers, with street racers blocking roads and intersections in Portland. PORTLAND, Oregon Portland police announced this week that they plan to crack down on illegal street racing in Portland after numerous street "takeovers . Jeremy Vaughn, around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 24, Kingston Springs K9 Officer Brandon Scruggs observed two vehicles, a Gray Dodge Challenger and a Black Ford Mustang, apparently racing Police say a similar situation unfolded Sunday, just before 1 a.m. Calls came in about someone being shot near north Going Street and north Basin Avenue. Two vehicles seen drag racing on Interstate 40 last month resulted in one arrest. Portland City Council last year unanimously approved an ordinance intended to crack down on street racing by beefing up penalties for those who shut down intersections and roadways and speed around city streets. According to Sheppard, street racing events require a lot of officers due to the large number of participants. The Portland Police Homicide Unit was investigating. It happened at Northeast Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard and Northeast Columbia Boulevard, where the intersection was taken over by street racers. 2. You should leave them at home since federal law still considers marijuana illegal. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. WATCH:Illegal street racing at the Lloyd Center. An intersection in downtown Portland was taken over just two weeks ago. McGills mother, Misty Nicholson, told KATU that her daughter was waiting for a bus when the car leapt the curb and struck her. Police also said street racing made it difficult for officers to reach areas where people were being killed. Taylor was at the event because he loved cars, and was not involved in street racing, a family representative told KATU-TV. All rights reserved. Scheduled events are actively and unabashedly advertised on social media. In that case, offenders could participate in a diversion program approved by the district attorney. A friend got Taylor into their car and tried to take him to get help, but he died on the way, police said. Tire marks are left behind by street racers in a parking lot off Marine Drive on Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018.Anna Spoerre/File. These events can be dangerous, and have been deadly. While people might typically imagine souped-up hot rods speeding through their local streets, Baer says he sees all kinds of vehicles.. At 11 p.m. Sunday, authorities responded to a shooting near NE 1-5 over MLK Boulevard, where hundreds of people were participating in illegal street races. The whole thing caused the Space Age gas station to shut down Saturday night. Officers will respond as they become available and it is safer for them to do so. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Street racing on Sunday, Aug. 1 . The City of Portland ensures meaningful access to City programs, services, and activities to comply with Civil Rights Title VI and ADA Title II laws and reasonably provides: translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, auxiliary aids and services. Once that was achieved, prospective members spent a year as 'apprentices' attending all the meetings the club held. Under the terms of the ordinance, illegal street racers could face prison time, get their cars towed and receive fines of up to $500. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. A person commits the offense of an Unlawful Street Takeover if, in a public place or upon a highway, the person knowingly operates a motor vehicle while engaged in an unlawful street . The air was thick with the smell of burning rubber, and the noise from cars and motorcycles racing near his home was so loud that he and his neighbors had to yell to hear each other. . Another shooting victim showed up at a Washington hospital in the same condition. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23, Catalina Gaitn | The Oregonian/OregonLive. Rothery lives around the corner from where the attack happened and said illegal street takeovers have happened twice in the three months he has lived there. Give website feedback. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A Washington state man is facing charges after allegedly trying to elude police at speeds of more than 100 mph during an illegal street racing enforcement sweep conducted by Portland officers and Oregon State Police troopers over the weekend. Dozens of onlookers gather on Burnside Bridge to watch drivers spin their cars in donuts in an illegal racing event Sunday, June 12, 2022. Under the terms of the ordinance, illegal street racers could face prison time . Our Vision Zero and Twenty is Plenty traffic safety plans show our commitment to reducing preventable crashes and fatalities. Request these services online or call 503-823-4000, Relay Service:711. Read also: Video surveillance shows cops firing after Robert Connelly pulled a gun on them, leading to a hostage situation that ends peacefully. A motorcyclist was killed last month in a crash that police said apparently involved racing. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Multiple people were arrested over the weekend for illegal and dangerous street racing around Portland. RELATED: Portland police arrest 4 drivers, issue 24 citations in street racing crackdown, RELATED: I-84 shut down by cars doing donuts, 3 arrested. Ashlee McGill, 26, was an innocent bystander, police say, when she was struck by an out-of-control car. Street racing is illegal, dangerous and harms our community, said Chief Chuck Lovell. Police eventually shut it down. On Aug. 1, a street sliding gathering at the intersection of Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. and Columbia boulevards drew a crowd of hundreds, Willamette Week first reported. He also cited a police staffing shortage. People also reported floating cars, fireworks, and thick clouds of smoke. Planning, outreach and education, strategic, and technology projects. We have to be innovative.. But these intersection takeovers are adding up. If you operate a vehicle for employment, these convictions can also impact your career.. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. WATCH:Illegal street racing at NE Sandy Boulevard. The sweep was part of a wider joint mission between the Portland Police Bureau and Oregon State Police in an effort to clamp down on illegal street racing in Portland. Officers saturated areas where speed racing has become treacherous for pedestrians and drivers, as well as a constant noise disturbance to the nearby neighborhoods. And there seem to be more of them now than ever before. They . In addition to Torresans arrest, another person was arrested in the sweep based on an outstanding warrant. In Los Angeles, which has long had a thriving underground racing scene, incidents of races and street takeovers jumped by 27% in 2021. The events have left two people dead and injured at least eight others since August 2021. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. They are afraid to come to work. Adams said the street racing issue is an example of why the city needs more police officers. . PORTLAND, Ore. The Fremont Bridge in Portland was closed for at least an hour Sunday, Aug. 22, as more than 100 people arrived at . Local 911 took an hour's worth of calls, and police flew over the intersection, assessing the situation from the air, before police said they could safely shut it down. Ending illegal racing events is another step in this overall goal. Ive seen everything from pickup trucks that I would think were taken off the family farm, to minivans, to commuter cars, he said. People who contacted KGW said they called 911 multiple times but police didn't respond. On Sunday, October 10, 2021, the Portland Police Bureau, in partnership with the Oregon State Police, conducted a multi-precinct Speed Racing enforcement mission. Patrol officers, with the help of aircraft and K9 officers worked together to address the incidents attended by hundreds of people on Sunday night and early Monday morning. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. LOCATION: NE Cully Blvd/NE Lombard St - 6/12/22 @ 8:20 PM, NAME: Cristobal Ramos, 21 (Vehicle Towed), LOCATION: 5500 Block of NE 60th Ave 6/12/2022 @ 9:07 PM, NAME: Tavian Alika Jordan-Layacan, 23 (Vehicle Towed), LOCATION: N Whitaker Rd/N Victory Blvd 6/12/2022 @ 9:21 PM, NAME: Anthony Tyrone Davis, 28 (Vehicle Towed), LOCATION: NE 16th AVE/NE Alberta St 6/12/22 @ 11:00 PM, NAME: Chase Thomas Hickman Davis (Vehicle Towed), LOCATION: NE 13th Ave/NE Multnomah St 6/13/22 @ 12:35 PM, NAME: Nimer Maher Lamer, 27 (Vehicle Towed), LOCATION: NB I-5/Hayden Island Exit 6/12/22 @ 11:58 PM, NAME: Miguel Angel Garnica Garcia, 38 (Vehicle Towed), LOCATION: NE 107th Ave/NE Brazee St 6/13/22 @ 12:59 AM, NAME: Sidney Mikel Robertson, 28 (Vehicle Towed). When we do respond, we want to be sure there are potential consequences and penalties. On Monday, Portland police explained further just how busy they were.