Watts, Northridge see dangerous street takeovers overnight as authorities crackdown

WATTS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- At least two dangerous street takeovers took place overnight as police work to curb such incidents across Los Angeles County.

One of the takeovers was reported at Century and Avalon Boulevards in Watts, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Video from the scene appears to show fireworks going off as cars performed donuts and burnouts in front of hundreds of spectators in the intersection.

The crowd dispersed when police officers arrived. No arrests were made.

Meanwhile, several people were reportedly injured at a separate takeover near Wilbur Avenue and Parthenia Street in Northridge just after 9:30 p.m. Sunday.

Police were not able to provide details about that incident, but video from the scene shows black skid marks in the intersection.

An ABC7 on Your Side investigation took a closer look at what the LAPD and L.A. County Sheriff's Department are doing to curb street takeovers. Reporter Kevin Ozebek rode along with deputies who specialize in stopping the dangerous incidents.

High‑speed donuts, near‑collisions and crowds blocking intersections have become a familiar scene. ABC7 got an inside look at the team targeting street takeovers.

The LASD said extra patrols have been added to crackdown on the takeovers.

According to the sheriff's department, Compton Station deputies have logged 113 street takeovers in the past six months, a 58% drop from the same period last year, when they responded to well over 200.

Across all areas served by the department, takeovers are down 56%, according to the L.A. County Chief Executive Office.

Deputies credit both increased patrols and new infrastructure for bringing the numbers down. Raised bumpers are being installed in the middle of intersections throughout Compton and other parts of L.A. County to physically prevent cars from doing donuts.

One problem deputies encounter, however, is the sheer magnitude of these events. Deputy David Murray he's seen upwards of 500 vehicles at just one street takeover.

In the past, street takeovers have escalated into vandalism, assaults and shootings. It's unclear if any of that happened in Watts or Northridge overnight.