Cleveland Police and the city plan pilot program to deter street takeovers

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO)—Cleveland Police, the Bibb Administration, and a special Street Takeover Task Force hope a pilot program will deter the crimes created by street takeovers.

In September, simultaneous street takeovers at more than half a dozen intersections and even a portion of I-90 in Cleveland, caused chaos as muscle cars performed dangerous stunts, blocking traffic. The city’s police chief called the crimes terrifying.

Now city leaders are hoping a pilot program will discourage illegal activity.

The plan involves street milling or adding something similar to rumble strips in the road to make it tough for speeding cars to perform dangerous stunts like donuts and burnouts. In several instances last month the criminals who took control of the streets wore masks and pointed guns at motorists. In one case at least four or five people jumped on the hood of a police car with the officer inside. One person then pounded his fists on the cruiser to taunt the officer.

One Cleveland resident named Alex tells 19 News, “Those bumps and stuff will do something in the short-term, but they’re just going to find a new spot where they can do that. So, I don’t think it will end up stopping it.”,

Lance Richards of Louisville, Kentucky feels the idea of street milling could make it safer for pedestrians, joggers, and even drivers to get to where they’re going without interruptions in Cleveland, “We’ve seen similar things in Louisville, Kentucky. I don’t know if they’re talking about rumble strips or milling, but they’re impounding cars. Take the cars away, and it takes away the problem.”

Longtime Cleveland City Councilman Michael Polensek says the plan has not been presented to the safety committee, and he’s interested in learning how the pilot program would impact walkers and joggers, as well as the snow plows. But Polensek is also waiting on the approval of the administration to return the draft of an ordinance that if approved by the council --- would stiffen the penalties for vandals who try to take over city streets.