Man arrested for organizing Southern California’s largest street takeovers
By Vivian Chow,
2024-02-11
Police have arrested a man believed to be one of the largest street takeover organizers in Southern California.
The man was identified as Erick Romero Quintana, 20, of Paramount, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Quintana has over 70,000 followers on social media and is allegedly responsible for coordinating events throughout the Southland resulting in “large-scale takeovers, smash-and-grab robberies, vehicle thefts, and other violent crimes including murder,” police said.
On Feb. 7, the LAPD’s Street Racing Task Force served a search warrant at a home in Paramount where Quintana was located and taken into custody. He was arrested on charges of conspiracy and is facing multiple felony counts related to organizing the takeover events.
“This arrest is significant not only for the City of Los Angeles but also for the Southern California region,” said LAPD.
With a rise in violent, deadly street takeovers and sideshows taking place across SoCal, authorities and L.A. city officials are working to crack down on the illegal gatherings.
A street takeover in South L.A. on May 2, 2022. (Onscene.TV)
A street takeover is seen in the area of Rosecrans and Atlantic avenues in Compton in 2020. (KTLA)
A car is seen during a street takeover in South Los Angeles on July 4, 2022. (No credit for image)
Cars do stunts as Christmas trees burn during a street takeover in Watts on Jan. 9, 2023.
A passenger is seen hanging onto the side of a car during a street takeover in Los Angeles. (Image acquired by KTLA)
Drivers pulled stunts in a Whittier parking lot on July 18, 2023. (Key News Network)
A pickup truck is seen doing doughnuts during a street takeover in Sun Valley on Sept. 11, 2023. (KNN)
Four people were shot during street takeovers that happened in various parts of LA over the weekend.
A driver is seen during a street takeover in Santa Fe Springs on Oct. 27, 2022. (AIO Filmz)
A car is seen during a street takeover in Buena Park on Oct. 6, 2022. (AIO FIlmz)
A spectator uses a torch during a street takeover in Santa Fe Springs. Oct. 27, 2022. (AIO Filmz)
Los Angeles Police vehicles converging at the intersection of Sawtelle Boulevard and National Boulevard to stop a street takeover. Aug. 19, 2022. (ANG News)
What appears to be a handgun is seen during a street takeover in South Los Angeles on March 21, 2022. (Credit: Anonymous videographer)
A street takeover is seen in an undated file photo. (Onscene.tv)
A street takeover in south Los Angeles came to a screeching halt when shots rang out Monday morning, June 6, 2022 (OnScene.TV)
Police made multiple arrests during a street takeover in Sun Valley on May 5, 2022. (KTLA)
Attendees performed donuts during a street takeover in South L.A. on May 29, 2022. (RMG News)
A passenger is seen hanging out of a window during a street takeover in Anaheim on Aug. 18, 2022. (O.C. Hawk)
Street racers took over several neighborhoods in South Los Angeles on July 6, 2023. (Anonymous)
An image taken from video shows three cars and spectators involved in a street takeover in Southern California on June 12, 2023.
A car is seen during a street takeover in Anaheim on Nov. 23, 2022. (OCHN)
A driver does donuts at Wilmington Avenue and Caldwell Street on Aug. 22, 2022. where speed bumps were recently installed. (OnScene.TV)
An illegal street takeover shut down an intersection in Florence on May 1, 2022 (RMG News)
Three street takeovers plagued South Los Angeles on May 14, 2023.
A street takeover in South Los Angeles. June 12, 2023.
“The number of incidents resulting from unsafe driving behaviors, including motorists exceeding 100 mph on state highways, illegal street racing and sideshow activities, and speed-related crashes are occurring at a staggering pace,” said the California Highway Patrol.
A new pilot program in L.A. will deploy more officers at intersections known for takeovers along with adding raised and hardened center lines, raised pavement markers, rumble strips and the installation of gutters at certain spots.
“Illegal street racing and sideshows are not just reckless activities; they are potential tragedies in the making. These events put lives at risk, not only for the participants but also for innocent bystanders,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee.
Anyone with information on illegal street events call the LAPD’s Street Racing Task Force at 213-833-3746. The public can also call LAPD at 1-877-527-3247.
Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.
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