Dozens arrested, cars towed after foiled Cincinnati street takeover

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Cincinnati police arrested 39 people and towed 65 cars after responding to a foiled street takeover attempt at Woodward High School overnight. Police say they first spotted the group near Paddock Road and I-75, where they made an arrest and recovered a gun. The group then headed to the high school, leading to a chaotic scene as police used stop sticks to prevent them from fleeing. At least 31 people were booked into the Hamilton County Jail, charged with misdemeanor street racing.

Why it matters

Street takeovers have become an increasing problem in many cities, leading to reckless driving, property damage, and public safety concerns. This incident highlights the efforts of Cincinnati police to proactively respond to intelligence about planned takeovers and shut them down before they can occur.

The details

According to police, they received a tip about a large group of drivers heading to a planned street takeover at Woodward High School. Officers first spotted the group near Paddock Road and I-75, where they made an arrest and recovered a gun. The group then headed to the high school, prompting a major police response. In emergency calls, officers can be heard calling for backup and using stop sticks to prevent the drivers from fleeing the scene. In total, 39 people were arrested and 65 cars were towed.

• Police first spotted the group near Paddock Road and I-75 on Saturday night.
• The attempted takeover occurred at Woodward High School overnight Saturday into early Sunday morning.

What’s next

Police will continue to investigate the incident and pursue charges against the 39 individuals arrested.