Additional arrests made during crackdown on illegal street racing in Maryland

BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Car Rally Task Force has expanded its crackdown on illegal exhibition driving, resulting in several additional last weekend.

Maryland State Police say 26-year-old Jose Manuel Zapata of Pennsylvania was charged with loaded handgun on person, handgun on person, handgun in vehicle, and loaded handgun in vehicle after he was stopped by police on August 25 in Baltimore.

Zapata was seen running toward a Volkswagen Golf with Pennsylvania tags with what looked like a gun in his car, according to police. He was arrested on scene without incident.

In addition to the above arrest, the Maryland Car Rally Task Force, in collaboration with its law enforcement partners have charged the following individuals either through a criminal summons or an arrest warrant as part of the task force’s efforts in Prince George’s County and Baltimore County:

• Dylan Reyes, 23, of Laurel – Disorderly Conduct, Riot
• Jamal Mayo, 19, of Silver Spring – Disorderly Conduct, Riot, Fireworks Discharge w/o Permit, Fireworks Poss. w/o Permit, Riot
• Irvin Leonidas Campos Solanos, 25 of Baltimore – Vehicle Theft (Active Warrant from Delaware)
• Jordan Kenyatta Okubo, 20, of Temple Hills – Operating Vehicle on Highway with Unauthorized Window Tinting Material, Failure of MV Operator to Present Evidence of Required Security on Request of a Law Enforcement Officer, Modifying Exhaust on Motor Veh. Causing Excessive Noise Emission, Failure of Driver to Drive to Curb Upon Signal by Police Veh, Use Lamps on Motor Veh. Changing Original Design, Owner Failure to Maintain Required Security for Veh. During Reg. Period, Knowingly Driving Uninsured Vehicle.

The Maryland Car Rally Task Force, which is made up of Maryland State Police, the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, Baltimore City Police, and police departments in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George’s counties, has been investigating and addressing exhibition driving events across the state since June 2024.

The task force says its goal is to identify and charge those involved in these illegal activities, which often involve blocking public roads for dangerous stunts, disrupting traffic, causing property damage, and posing risks to the public. Increased patrols in identified hotspot areas have been conducted along with comprehensive investigations to identify and charge those involved.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.