Video captures apparent street takeover in New Haven: What to do if you witness one

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Video captured an apparent street takeover in New Haven on Saturday.

The video shows ATVs and dirt bikes blocking the Whalley Avenue and Amity Road intersection. At one point, one rider can be seen doing donuts.

“I’m just at the light and probably close to 50 people,” Elias Campos, a delivery driver for Clemente’s Pizza & Grill, said.

Campos was making deliveries on Saturday night when he saw the ATVs and dirt bikes.

“They’re just a little community, doing their little thing,” he said.

“It’s a scary thing when you get caught up in these takeovers,” long-time New Haven resident Jane Lewin said. “We have to do something.”

New Haven police were called to the area and received multiple calls about this.

“This is an ongoing issue and certainly we’d like to be able to take them off the streets,” Christian Bruckhart of the New Haven Police Department said.

Bruckhart told us this is an issue they’re working to address.  The department does have dedicated ATV details to seize bikes and make arrests.

“We’ve had a few high-profile incidents where ATV riders and officers to be hurt,” he said.  “It’s safer for us to get them while they’re off [the bikes].  If you know where they’re being stored, cared for, those kinds of places, please let us know.”

Bruckhart added these groups, often times, are only in an area for a few minutes before moving on.

A street takeover was reported in Bethany on Saturday, as well. Connecticut State Police gave some tips on what to do if you see one of these street takeovers:

• Call the police
• Stay in your car
• Don’t drive through the area

Anyone with information about the incident in New Haven is being asked to give police a call right away.

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