RELATED: Portland police plan crackdown on illegal street racing (April 2022), RELATED: Portland City Council passes ordinance outlawing street racing with $500 fine, possible jail time. Legal Statement. Authorities also issued 21 citations and conducted nearly 50 traffic stops and gave countless warnings when 50 street racers showed up to a neighborhood to enforce Portlands new city code prohibiting unlawful street takeovers; however, police did not specify in which neighborhood. Fact Finders; What you need to know about marijuana on planes Oregon lawmakers could take up a bill this session that toughens punishments for people caught street racing. It happened at Northeast Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard and Northeast Columbia Boulevard, where the intersection was taken over by street racers. (BikePortland graphic using PPB and PBOT data) SE Stark is a drag strip. Officials say one man was found shot at the scene and had non-life-threatening injuries. On Monday, Portland police explained further just how busy they were. The drafted ordinance cites several incidents since 2019 in which street takeovers blocked major intersections and pointed to other cities like Tacoma that have successfully enacted similar rules to mitigate street racing. None of the injuries were life-threatening. They responded in force, arrested seven and seized several cars . It all happened on a weekend when Portland police were so busy responding to homicides and shootings, they were unable to do anything to crack down on the street-racing events. According to KGW, the event angered Portland residents. PORTLAND, Oregon ( KPTV) Neighbors are speaking out after an illegal street racing event blocked a northeast Portland intersection for about three hours Sunday night. PORTLAND, Ore. Street racing and stunting continue to be an issue in Portland, with drivers taking over at least two different intersections on Sunday night. I don't feel good about it because I like to keep my business running but it looked like we didn't have a choice, said Joseph Nguyen, who is the manager. People also reported floating cars, fireworks, and thick clouds of smoke. Officials say it caused roadblocks and incidents that involved multiple people being shot. . 7 arrested after illegal street racing in Portland - KPTV 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. One person said they were told by dispatch there was nothing police could do about it. They . YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Published: Jun. Scheduled events are actively and unabashedly advertised on social media. Rise in illegal street racing across US during lockdown results in . The ordinance would impose a maximum 6-month jail sentence and a $500 fine for each violation, unless its a persons first offense. They released a statement saying they were planning and gathering resources to conduct regular enforcement missions.. "The city of Portland has experienced an enormous increase in our shooting rate, a staggering amount of volatile demonstrations, while our staffing numbers have dwindled," said acting Lt. Michael Roberts, who is tasked with addressing illegal street racing. PORTLAND, Ore. The Fremont Bridge in Portland was closed for at least an hour Sunday, Aug. 22, as more than 100 people arrived at . Opportunities posted to governmentjobs.com, City of Portland general information hotline, Report non-urgent traffic safety concerns. Illegal street racing takes over NE Portland intersection, latest in This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. According to a press release, at least four people were shot this weekend at what police are calling illegal races. . Almost a week later, the driver remained in the hospital with critical injuries. If SB 615 passes, first offenders could get a maximum of 364 days . Request these services online or call 503-823-4000, Relay Service:711. 7 arrested after illegal street racing in Portland - YouTube 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. Even then, police said, when some of the fleeing drivers were finally stopped, they ran away on foot. But its unclear how the city would enforce such a code. You should leave them at home since federal law still considers marijuana illegal. 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? If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Ive seen everything from pickup trucks that I would think were taken off the family farm, to minivans, to commuter cars, he said. OPBs critical reporting and inspiring programs are made possible by the power of member support. Monday night four people were injured when bullets started flying during a street race gathering. Portland police conducted a street racing mission that month, during which they arrested seven people for participating in street races. You can lose your vehicle on the spot as well as thousands of dollarsfast! Opinions expressed by Portland News contributors are their own. Portland Street Racing Ends in 4 Shot, Over 100 Rounds Fired WA lawmakers consider changes, Best places to live on the West Coast: Analysis, OR cities, towns with most expensive homes: Zillow, 40yo cold case victims family finds closure, OR has 2nd-highest rate of workplace accidents, Report: This city is top spot for migrating Portlanders. 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. After record retirements and departures from Portland police, Pashley said the bureau still does not have the personnel to deter street racing in the city. 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. April 12, 2021 at 7:02 pm PDT. A 2018 Oregonian story on street racing found that four people were killed in Portland street racing-related incidents from 2015 to 2018. PPB and OSP Conduct Illegal Street Racing Enforcement Mission (Photo) On Sunday, October 10, 2021, the Portland Police Bureau, in partnership with the Oregon State Police, conducted a multi-precinct Speed Racing enforcement mission. Police havent made any arrests. One person said he was told the police couldnt do anything about it. 2. I watched the whole thing last night and they were sticking their heads out the window and spinning. Portland Police did not respond to that gathering, Lt. Greg Pashley, a spokesman for the bureau confirmed. 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. Oregon bill aims to crack down on illegal street racing No other such life safety calls arose and eventually the crowd dissipated.. McGills mother, Misty Nicholson, told KATU that her daughter was waiting for a bus when the car leapt the curb and struck her. 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. Officers will respond as they become available and it is safer for them to do so., Read also: Portland and DOJ Clash Regarding Police use of Force. 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. After five or ten minutes, I decided to jump the median and turn around and take the long way home, said Murphy, who added that he could still hear the noise once he got into his home. 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. A huge crowd had taken over an entire four corners of a block street racing. The state of Oregon. All rights reserved. While people might typically imagine souped-up hot rods speeding through their local streets, Baer says he sees all kinds of vehicles.. Some Angelinos blame movies like the Fast & Furious franchise, going so far as to protest against filming new movies. 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. We are in a response mode more than in a deterrent mode or prevention mode, Pashley said. Officials released a press release revealing that four people were shot dead during illegal races over the weekend. The Portland Police Department (PBB) said the events made it difficult for officers to reach areas where people were being killed. Portland police launched street missions across the city with the . 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. On Sunday, October 10, 2021, the Portland Police Bureau, in partnership with the Oregon State Police, conducted a multi-precinct Speed Racing enforcement mission. Under the terms of the ordinance, offenders can risk imprisonment and towing of their cars with fines of up to $ 500. PORTLAND, Ore. Drivers taking part in illegal street racing and stunting blocked off several roads and intersections in Portland on Sunday night. According to police, three people were shot in the area of the Marine Drive street-racing event Sunday night. Illegal street races in Portland becomes even more problematic Sign up to get important news and culture from around the Northwest, delivered to your inbox six days a week. Street racing, stunting blocks several Portland roads on Sunday - KATU KGW covered a similar event at the intersection back in August. A 28-year-old woman in Phoenix, Arizona, died on 2 May after an alleged street racer cracked into her car. A 20-year-old was killed in Portland on Sunday during a shooting that occurred during an illegal street racing takeover, authorities said. PPB Reminds Public About Illegal Street Racing (Photo) - Portland Police It's dangerous, very dangerous, said Nguyen. In August 2021, the Portland City Council voted to create a new ordinance that would ban street racing in the city. Market data provided by Factset. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "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. Their determination was that resources did not allow for other options. Most of the complaints indicated that the racing events took place in northeastern Portland. Police say the area where this happened has seen a wave of street racing activity in recent years. And while it may look like a big party, it's a danger to anyone in the area. Officers found hundreds of people leaving what they say appeared to be another illegal race. 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 People who contacted KGW said they called 911 multiple times but police didn't respond. Can a city ordinance curb street racing in Portland? Tire marks, and even tire . . According to a statement, several vehicles were also towed and a gun was seized. There have also been reports of people sitting and standing on the rooftops of nearby commercial sites. Back in the Roseway neighborhood last month, when a 911 dispatcher told Rothery police wouldnt come, someone did need help. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Illegal drag racing has exploded in popularity across the U.S. since the coronavirus pandemic began, with sometimes deadly consequences. Jordan Murphy was out walking his dog Artie and had to detour to get home Saturday. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. It took a couple of minutes to notice that the whole intersection was blocked with cars just spinning cookies. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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 newly formed group North Portland Coalition for Safe Streets -- including representatives from Columbia Sportswear, Subaru and Sherwin-Williams, among other companies -- sent three letters over several months outlining their concerns. Speed Racing is a Class A traffic violation. Officers saturated areas where speed racing has become treacherous for pedestrians and drivers, as well as a constant noise disturbance to the nearby neighborhoods. Market data provided by Factset. In addition to Torresans arrest, another person was arrested in the sweep based on an outstanding warrant. One of the people shot, 20-year-old Cameron Taylor, died. The street racing angered Portland residents, with numerous people reaching out to KGW Sunday night to share details of what they were seeing and hearing, and ask why police weren't getting involved. Over the weekend, several people were killed near illegal street racing takeovers, with street racers blocking roads and intersections in Portland. Police have made arrests for reckless endangering and other charges in the past and at times have tried to make ending street racing a priority. --Savannah Eadens; seadens@oregonian.com; 503-221-6651; @savannaheadens. Neighbors speak out after illegal street racing event I am pleased no one was harmed last night when the suspect crashed into a police vehicle.. Portland police released a statement saying they were "planning and gathering resources to conduct regular enforcement missions.". It's just the latest tragedy caused by the tragic mix of illegal street racing and deadly road designs that make it possible. For weeks, the firm and government have, 2022 Portland News - All Rights Reserved. All rights reserved. You can lose your vehicle on the spot as well as thousands of dollarsfast! Reference: Police respond to rampant illegal street racing over the weekend in Portland McGill had a 6-year-old son, Nicholson 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.. All rights reserved (About Us). After all of that, only 10% of the applicants would make it onto the team. Planning, outreach and education, strategic, and technology projects. Portland cracks down on street racing with harsher penalties One dispatcher told him they were having a busy night, but to call back if he heard anyone screaming for help, he said. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The cars were lined up five to six cars deep on each side of the intersection, making it difficult for anyone to pass. 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. 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, said Sheppard late Sunday night. Since then, Portland police have partnered with . Within just a few minutes there were about 2-300 people there parking all around blocking, said Scotty Day. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Police say the woman struck and killed by an apparent street-racing accident in Portland Aug. 27 had been waiting at a bus stop. (Portland Police Bureau). In August of last year, the Portland City Council voted in favor of a new ordinance that would ban street racing. 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. Officers saturated areas where speed racing has become treacherous for pedestrians and drivers, as well as a . They almost hit my truck driving down Columbia Boulevard after everything was done.. or redistributed. 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. which has long had a thriving underground racing scene, Portland cracks down on street racing with harsher penalties, Street racing surges across US amid coronavirus pandemic, Portland Police confront increased street racing. We have to be innovative.. Illegal Portland Street Racing Crackdown: 7 Arrested, Cars Towed Street racers gathered the evening of Aug. 12, 2018, in the parking lot of the Goodwill on Northeast Marine Drive and 122nd Avenue in Portland, Ore. Across America, police are confronting illegal . 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. PPB and OSP Conduct Illegal Street Racing Enforcement - Portland Police The Portland Police Homicide Unit was investigating. Video shows one such illegal . Dispatchers told a woman who called 911 that an ambulance would be delayed due to parked cars, KGW reported. 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). More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23, Savannah Eadens | The Oregonian/OregonLive, Shane Dixon Kavanaugh | The Oregonian/OregonLive, a motorcyclist died in a collision with another car on North Marine Drive. By FOX 12 Staff. 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