Over the weekend, several agencies teamed up to shut down several takeover events planned by street racing groups, according to the Portland Police Bureau (PPB).
On Saturday night, PPB conducted a multi-agency mission alongside the District’s Attorney Office and Oregon State Police. This was previously planned by PPB' Stolen Vehicle Operation (SVO) agency at the East Precinct.
SVO officers assisted with a large racing takeover at Northeast 102 near Glisan, according to PPB. PPB took to socials on Sunday revealing the outcome of the Saturday mission. The final numbers and arrest information will be made available once KGW learns more.
Here is what PPB has released so far: eight stolen cars captured, three cars eluding police were pursued and captured. The three cars eluding police were all confirmed stolen and two had guns in the car. Overall, this weekend officers towed 12 cars, made at least six arrests, two cars towed as civil forfeitures, and one unlawfully possessed gun seized, according to PPB.
KGW spoke with one witness to the Northeast Portland takeover.
"They had Plaid [Pantry] blocked off. They had the donut shop, the car wash. My street, that little parking lot," Ronald Davis pointed out.
Davis was staying on NE 103rd, just one street over from the takeover. After midnight, early Sunday morning, he said he went out to get gas for his car, but when he tried to get back to the house, street racers blocked his path.
"One of the guys had cursed at me and said he would shoot at me," he said, "And he threatened me with a gun...I got scared and took off, and my car burned out a little bit. Then I got down to 116th and Glisan, and all of the sudden all of my tires are popped and they’re throwing spike strips out at me."
Davis said officers questioned him, and ended up charging him with reckless driving. He told KGW he believes he was singled out due to the kind of car he was driving - a orange 2017 Dodge Challenger - but insisted he had nothing to do with the illegal takeover.
"I understand what’s going on, but you shouldn’t judge people because of that," he said, "I wasn’t doing nothing. You didn’t see me out there burning out... and I get my car towed and impounded and it’s like 700 bucks and I got a big fat ticket."
Swan Island takeover
A man has been arrested and at least a dozen vehicles were towed following an "organized street takeover" Friday night on Swan Island, according to the Portland Police Bureau (PPB).
Around 7:50 p.m., North Precinct, Traffic Division and Air Support Unit officers responded to North Cutter Circle near Leverman Street. Officers made numerous traffic stops on vehicles leaving the area, PPB said, including on a sedan with a 23-year-old driver.
The suspect, Carter John Morse, of Vancouver, was seen doing “drifting” stunts, and officers attempted to stop him as he left the area, PPB said. Morse fled, driving into oncoming traffic lanes and running a red light, before a sergeant was able to box in the vehicle.
Morse was arrested and booked at the Multnomah County Detention Center, charged with attempt to elude police by vehicle, reckless driving and unlawful street takeover; the latter is an unclassified misdemeanor under city code.
Morse's vehicle, a 2010 Cadillac CTS, was also seized, and is in process of being permanently seized.
In 2023, Gov. Tina Kotek signed Senate Bill 615, which imposes harsher penalties for street racers, which include a jail sentence of up 364 days and or a $6,250 fine. If a person is convicted of the same crime within five years, it then becomes a Class C felony with a maximum of five years in jail and/or up to a $125,000 fine.
Under the Senate bill, too, those who participate in street takeovers could permanently lose their vehicle.
In late January of this year, the Oregon Criminal Justice System gave the city of Portland a $100,000 grant to help stop street racing.