Broward Police conducted a special operation last Friday night against illegal car racing and reckless driving, where three arrests were made and numerous vehicles were seized, in addition to two firearms.
Mark A. Quallo, 40, Brandon C. McLean, 22, and Tyler Barber, 19, were arrested last Friday and are charged under a new Florida law (FSS 316.191) that went into effect last October and aimed at curbing freeway races, street takeovers and stunts, Broward Sheriff’s Office officials said.
A large number of spectators of this activity were also cited.
The conference was held at the Broward Sheriff’s Headquarters, where the arrests were reportedly made after reckless drivers routinely took over Broward County intersections in recent months, authorities said.
During Friday’s operation, detectives discovered that a meeting of drivers had taken place in Tamarac and from there they moved to the 3500 block of 56th Street in northwest Fort Lauderdale.
While there, officers were able to witness numerous drivers, including those who were arrested, skid their vehicles and perform other reckless and risky maneuvers, authorities said.
After officers overwhelmed the area, the group of reckless drivers moved to 6415 North Andrews Avenue in Fort Lauderdale, where a movie theater and other businesses are located, authorities said.
At this location, the reckless drivers continued their maneuvers in the parking lot and the neighboring street, while there were people, including children, who left the cinema, according to the authorities.
Officers arrested the three people and issued at least eight non-criminal citations to eight bystanders of this activity, according to BSO.
The sheriff spoke of the dangers of these actions and the efforts of his officers to combat these actions, which will continue. He warned of the consequences for those who participate and for those who organize them.