7 arrested during 'Swing Into Easter' Portland street takeover
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- A massive street takeover in Portland shut down by police led to seven arrests and the seizure of drugs, illegal firearms and cash late Saturday night.
The planned illegal street racing/street takeover events, dubbed “Swing into Easter” and “PDX is Everyone," drew in people from across the region.
Portland police originally learned of the events Wednesday and started planning with neighboring agencies, creating a team of around 30 officers on the mission to stop the takeover.
Ultimately, police conducted 37 traffic stops, gave 32 citations, towed nine vehicles, recovered four illegal firearms and arrested seven people.
Portland police also believe one of the people they arrested Saturday night was an organizer of the event, which would mean he is facing additional charges.
"This very dangerous behavior that can turn vehicles that are not designed to do these maneuvers on roadways, that are not designed to have vehicles doing this, becomes dangerous to the drivers that are operating them, to community members that are trying to go from one location to the next," said PPB Captain Christopher Burley. "It can also be frightening for community members to be able to plan on going from point A to point B, and then all of a sudden, be in the middle of one of these events."
In one incident, the driver of a white Audi eluded officers going 80 to 100 miles an hour on surface streets, police said. Eventually, the driver abandoned the vehicle south of North Lombard Street and ran into a backyard.
Police said the driver was then seen throwing objects from one yard into another. Police said at the time of the driver's arrest, they found a "high dollar amount" of cash on him as well as fentanyl.
Later in the evening, law enforcement used planes to follow another driver going over 100 miles per hour on surface streets and swerving in and out of lanes. Police then chased the driver over the Interstate Bridge into Vancouver.
Despite Vancouver police deploying spike strips, police said the car turned around, went back across the bridge, driving all over Portland before being stopped near Southeast 148th and Halsey and arrested.
According to PPB, these street takeover events have grown in popularity in Portland since the pandemic, with some involving over 1,000 people. They can also be deadly to not only those participating, but the community as well.