BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. — Maryland State Police have arrested several people over what the agency calls "ongoing concerns over unlawful large-scale exhibition driving events throughout Maryland."
Police say the arrests stem from "takeovers" they have been investigating since June this year. They are car meetups that involve illegal activities such as blocking public roads for dangerous vehicular stunts, disrupting traffic, causing property damage and putting the general public at risk.
The latest arrest was on Saturday, in the area of North Avenue and Eutaw Place in Baltimore. Police say there was an unlawful meetup where participants attempted to takeover the intersection. Investigators claim they were dispersing the crowd when they saw a man running toward a Volkswagen Golf with Pennsylvania tags. The man appeared to have a firearm in his possession as he entered the backseat of the car. Police say they conducted a traffic stop where the man, later identified as 26-year-old Jose Manuel Zapata, was arrested without incident.
Zapata was charged with loaded handgun on person, handgun on person, handgun in vehicle, loaded handgun in vehicle. He was transported to the District Court Commissioner in Baltimore City and held on a $10,000 bond. Members of the Maryland Car Rally Task Force were working in collaboration with the Maryland State Police Special Operations Division, the Baltimore Regional Auto Theft Task Force (RATT) to address the "takeover" event that led to Zapata's arrest.
This follows earlier arrests from July that involved the following Maryland residents:
- Terrell Marshall, 22, of Suitland
- Alex Agustin, 22, of Laurel
- Kyle Allen, 24, of Lanham
- Jarard Walters, 21, of Essex
- Malik Coleman, 24, of Baltimore
- London Flores, 19, of Silver Spring
All of the above individuals were charged in connection with illegal exhibition driving events in Prince George’s County.
The Maryland Car Rally Task Force, in collaboration with law enforcement partners, has also charged the following people either through a criminal summons or an arrest warrant:
- Dylan Reyes, 23, of Laurel – Disorderly Conduct, Riot
- Jamal Mayo, 19, of Silver Spring – Disorderly Conduct, Riot, Fireworks Discharge w/o Permit, Fireworks Poss. w/o Permit, Riot
- Irvin Leonidas Campos Solanos, 25 of Baltimore – Vehicle Theft (Active Warrant from Delaware)
- Jordan Kenyatta Okubo, 20, of Temple Hills – Operating Vehicle on Highway with Unauthorized Window Tinting Material, Failure of MV Operator to Present Evidence of Required Security on Request of a Law Enforcement Officer, Modifying Exhaust on Motor Veh. Causing Excessive Noise Emission, Failure of Driver to Drive to Curb Upon Signal by Police Veh, Use Lamps on Motor Veh. Changing Original Design, Owner Failure to Maintain Required Security for Veh. During Reg. Period, Knowingly Driving Uninsured Vehicle
The task force’s efforts to combat such "takeover" events in Prince George’s and Baltimore County include increased patrols in hotspot areas, enhanced traffic enforcement and investigations to identify and charge those involved.
The Maryland Car Rally task force includes the Maryland Department of State Police, the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, Baltimore City Police and police departments in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George’s counties.