An image from the FBI's CT street takeover tips page.
SHELTON — Police were out in force over the weekend because of another “street takeover,” when hordes of obnoxious motorists descend upon a pre-planned location.
In a written statement issued Sunday, Detective Richard Bango said police knew a takeover was being planned Saturday (Dec. 9) in the area of Research Drive, prompting a coordinated response with some six other law enforcement agencies locally.
“A street takeover is an unsanctioned event with large groups of motorists that block roads and take over parking lots, performing stunts with their vehicles. Shelton has been the target of these takeovers in the recent past and preparations were made in anticipation of this gathering,” Bango said.
Police said the takeovers put people in danger. State police and the FBI have established a “Connecticut Street Takeover” website to report people organizing the takeovers.
Click here to pass along information to the task force.
Police prepared for the Saturday night takeover, Bango said. The effort involved state police, federal officials, along with the Derby, Milford, Orange and Trumbull police departments.
In Shelton, police mobilized along Bridgeport Avenue.
“Officers were also positioned on Research Drive and Scinto security were stationed in their respective parking lots,” Bango said.
Readers on social media also noted large gatherings of officers in Derby, too.
At about 8 p.m., some 500 vehicles descended upon Shelton, first targeting the ample parking available in the Research Drive area, a large office complex.
“When the vehicles arrived at Research Drive business parking lots they were turned away,” Bango said. “The group then attempted to plan alternative parking lots to gather along Bridgeport Avenue using social media. When the vehicles would arrive at these parking lots, police dispersed them before they could assemble a group. The group then left Shelton and traveled to North Haven, Orange, Derby and then back to Shelton. Officers from each department traveled to said towns with the vehicles. The vehicles were dispersed from these towns in the same manner.“
Police said several tickets were issued and a few vehicles were impounded. However, no criminal arrests were made in Shelton.
Some of the vehicles were from New York, Massaschusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Vermont, police said.
“The Shelton Police Department will stay vigilant to “street takeovers” and other types of unsanctioned gathers like these and respond accordingly,” Bango said.
The video below is from September, when WFSB’s ‘CT ‘23’ Sunday news show did a segment on the takeovers.
