PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. — Maryland State Police and other local law enforcement have partnered together to crack down on car meetups in the area.
On Friday, the task force, known as the Maryland Car Rally Task Force, announced the arrests of six people connected to illegal car meetups throughout Prince George's County. The task force was created back in June and is made up of members from the Maryland State Police, Maryland Transportation Authority Police, Baltimore City Police, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George's County police departments.
Their priority is to focus on investigating and addressing exhibition driving events, known in the community as 'takeovers'. These meet-ups sometimes involve blocking public roads, disrupting traffic flow, and destroying property.
In a few cases, these meetups have become violent. In April, an officer attempted to break up one of the car meets in Fairfax County and was met by a mob of people, that swarmed their cruiser. The officer called for backup, as they arrived one of the drivers from the meetup struck the assisting officer and drove off.
The following month, a man was killed in a shooting at a car meetup in District Heights. The event was taking place in the shopping center parking lot when police received calls for a shooting. When officers arrived they found 26-year-old John Phipps dead inside of his car. Another person was wounded in that same shooting. Police have since arrested the man believed to be the shooter.
Officers with the task force have responded to three car rallies this month throughout Prince George's County, and have made six arrests connected to the rallies. Officers have increased patrols in areas considered to be "hot spots".
