Maryland Car Rally Task Force busts 7 illegal rally events throughout state

BALTIMORE, MD—Members from the Maryland Car Rally Task Force, working in collaboration with the Maryland State Police Special Operations Division, and allied police agencies disrupted seven unlawful exhibition driving events throughout multiple Maryland counties, including Howard County, Anne Arundel County, and Baltimore County, on Saturday night.

Police responded to several locations where up to 200 participants gathered in parking lots attempting to shut down intersections throughout the region. Police responded to the following locations at the approximate times:

• 10:20 p.m.: 9305 Snowden River Parkway, Columbia, MD
• 11:44 p.m.: 415 George Clauss Blvd, Severn, MD
• 12:20 a.m.: 3750 Commerce Dr, Halethorpe, MD
• 12:40 a.m.: 3030 Liberty Heights Ave, Baltimore, MD
• 12:50 a.m.: 2331 Cleanleigh Dr., Parkville, MD
• 1:28 a.m.: 200-600 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, MD
• 1:50 a.m.: E. Fayette St. at Central Ave., Baltimore, MD

Arrests were made that evening with additional participants having been charged from prior events. The individuals arrested and/or charged include:

• Dublen Sarceno Lima, 28, of Beltsville, MD – charged with driving/attempting to drive a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol per se, reckless driving, and other traffic violations.
• Richard Garrett, 22, of Manassas Park, VA – charged with disturbing the peace/hindering the peace, disorderly conduct, and malicious destruction of property.
• De’Lontay Coles, 19, of Silver Spring, MD – charged with disorderly conduct, fireworks discharge without a permit, riot, unlawful assembly, negligent and reckless driving, willfully damaging a highway, and other traffic violations.

During the event, the Baltimore Police Department additionally charged two juveniles, who are not being identified at this time, with possession of firearms.

Since June 2024, the Maryland Car Rally task force has focused on investigating and addressing exhibition driving events, knowns as “takeovers”. These illegal activities 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.

The Maryland Car Rally task force includes the Maryland State Police, the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, Prince George’s County Police, Baltimore City Police, and police departments in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, and Montgomery counties. The combined efforts continue to be instrumental in effectively addressing illegal exhibition driving across the designated regions.