Police attacked, squad cars damaged as officers respond to series of weekend street takeovers in Indianapolis; More than 5 suspects arrested

INDIANAPOLIS — Over the weekend, officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, as well as other law enforcement officials, responded to several street racing and other car-related incidents that resulted in multiple arrests throughout the Circle City.

“The actions we saw this weekend against IMPD officers and Indiana State Troopers is unacceptable,” IMPD Chief Chris Bailey said in a news release. “Our officers responded to calls regarding street takeovers and spinning, and in doing so, they were met with violence and their vehicles were attacked. Let me be clear — we will not tolerate any behavior that puts officer safety or the safety of our community at risk. We will continue to investigate these incidents thoroughly and hold those responsible accountable for their actions.”

East Washington Street and Pine Street

At around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, IMPD officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle near the intersection of East Washington Street and Pine Street. When the officer approached the vehicle, they reportedly saw several parking lots near the intersection that had around 100-200 vehicles engaged in reckless driving, including spinning.

The release said that a crowd began to form after the traffic stop. The release alleges that a group began to throw nearby road cones and signs at the police vehicles.

At a nearby fast-food restaurant, an individual reportedly began to fire shots in the area near the officers. The release said that the shooter fled the scene in a vehicle, which was later found unoccupied.

Additional officers made verbal announcements using police vehicle speakers. The release said once additional officers arrived, the crowd began to disperse.

Brookville Road and Arlington Avenue

At around 4 a.m. on Sunday, IMPD officers were dispatched the the intersection of Brookville Road and Arlington Avenue on reports of vehicles blocking the intersection. When the officers arrived, they reportedly saw 30-40 vehicles blocking the area.

The release said that an Indiana State Police trooper was on the scene with lights and sirens activated to disperse the crowd. Law enforcement officials then reportedly saw a black SUV attempt to leave the area, nearly colliding with the trooper’s vehicle.

A brief pursuit of the SUV then occurred before the vehicle stopped in the 300 block of North Webster Avenue. The release said the driver, identified by IMPD as David Balleza Jr., was taken into custody and preliminarily charged with resisting law enforcement with a motor vehicle, criminal recklessness and two counts of reckless driving.

Lafayette Road

At around 10:40 p.m. on Sunday, IMPD officers were dispatched to assist the Indiana State Police with reckless drivers in the 3400 block of Lafayette Road.

When officers arrived, they reportedly saw dozens of vehicles spinning and doing burnouts in a parking lot. The department alleges that, as troopers with ISP were attempting to clear the scene, they had rocks and bottles thrown at their vehicles. The crowd eventually dispersed.

Later that evening, IMPD officers were called to the area of Lafayette Road and Pike Plaza Road on reports of reckless driving and spinning. As officers attempted to disperse the crowd, the department said in the release that their vehicles were reportedly struck by fireworks, fire extinguishers, rocks and bottles.

Photos from the street takeover scenes courtesy of IMPD

IMPD officers later located one of the vehicles involved in the incident. The release said that officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. The driver was later identified as Roberto Ramirez, who was arrested for criminal recklessness.

Court records indicate state police also arrested 18-year-old Itzel Aguirre for her role in the street takeover that happened in the 3400 block of Lafayette Road.

ISP indicated Aguirre was seen doing burnouts in a black Chevrolet Camaro with a Mexican flag on the hood. During a traffic stop with state police, Aguirre admitted to performing burnouts. Court documents report that Aguirre told police she did not have a driver’s license.

ISP also indicated that Aguirre told troopers she was not in the U.S. legally because her work visa had expired.

Police observed an empty container of alcohol in Aguirre’s vehicle. When they asked if she had been drinking, Aguirre said she had consumed four drinks.

Troopers conducted a portable breath test with Aguirre. The result of the test, however, indicated her BrAC was .000.

Aguirre has been preliminarily charged with criminal recklessness committed via reckless driving, operating a vehicle without ever receiving a license and underage consumption of alcohol.

Around the same time police were responding to the 3400 block of Lafayette Road, IMPD officers were also called to the 2400 block of Lafayette Road on a report of a person shot. When police arrived at the scene, they located a victim with injuries consistent with gunshot wounds.

IMPD reported that the victim was awake and breathing when they found him. A public police report on the incident indicates no suspects have been arrested in relation to the shooting.

Investigators have not clarified whether or not the shooting and the street takeover are related.

English Avenue

At around 2:51 a.m. on Monday, IMPD officers responded to the 7000 block of English Avenue on reports of vehicles blocking the intersection.

When they arrived, officers reportedly saw more than 50 vehicles blocking the intersection and obstructing traffic. After officers activated their lights and sirens, a large crowd reportedly approached the vehicles.

The release said that an individual reportedly hit the windshield of an officer’s vehicle while another began throwing bottles of lighter fluid and baseball bats at the vehicle.

An officer on the scene reportedly recognized one of the suspects who damaged a police car. That suspect, later identified as Sergio Melendez, reportedly got into a vehicle and left the scene. Officers then attempted a traffic stop, which caused a vehicle pursuit.

The release said that Melendez was eventually placed under arrest for vandalism of city property and attempted aggravated assault of a police officer. The driver of the vehicle that Melendez was in, identified as Osmar Salgado, was also arrested on reckless driving and fleeing law enforcement charges.

Emerson Avenue and English Avenue

At around 3:15 a.m. on Monday, IMPD officers reportedly saw around 100 people near the intersection of Emerson Avenue and English Avenue. They reportedly saw individuals pour oil and gasoline on the roadway and set it on fire, as well as others doing donuts with their vehicles.

In an attempt to get the crowd to disperse, officers activated their lights and sirens. At this point, the department said that 20 people, many of whom were wearing masks, began to launch items, like gas and oil cans, as well as baseball bats, sticks and a fire extinguisher, at the vehicles.

After the incident, the crowd eventually began to disperse and fled the scene.

Other incidents

Police also arrested two other individuals who were allegedly spinning and driving recklessly over the weekend.

Doroto Barron was taken into custody on Saturday after police observed a dark orange Toyota Tundra spinning and doing burnouts in a gym’s parking lot just off 38th Street.

Initially, police conducted surveillance on the vehicle and observed it leave the gym parking lot on 38th Street. Law enforcement later located the Toyota in a Home Depot parking lot just off North High School Road.

According to court documents, when police saw the vehicle at the Home Depot, they approached it and instructed Barron to place his hands behind his back. He was then handcuffed and detained.

Barron has been preliminarily charged with criminal mischief, criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon and reckless driving.

One day after Barron was arrested, police took Trevor Rivas into custody. According to court documents, Rivas allegedly participated in a meetup of spinners in a Safeway parking lot.

The parking lot was located in the 2500 block of Adams Street, just off North Sherman Drive.

Police conducted surveillance on the vehicle Rivas was allegedly using — a white Chrysler 300 with a black hood. Officers observed the vehicle leaving the Safeway parking lot and subsequently conducted a traffic stop.

During the stop, Rivas was handcuffed and detained. He has been preliminarily charged with criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, criminal mischief and reckless driving.

IMPD also reported that Eyby Serrano-Rodriguez for his role in the weekend’s street takeover. The exact incident he was involved in is unclear at this time. According to Indiana’s public court reporting system, Serrano-Rodriguez has been charged with resisting law enforcement.

Police indicated that Roberto Bustos, like Serrano-Rodriguez, was also arrested during one of the weekend’s street takeovers. The preliminary charges Bustos faces and the exact incident he was involved in are currently unknown.

These incidents are currently under investigation, according to IMPD. Anyone with information or footage of the events is asked to contact the Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at (317) 262-8477.

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