SPRINGFIELD, Va. — When Fairfax County police officers tried to break up a large car meetup on Easter Sunday, things took a chaotic turn that left an officer hurt, and one person under arrest.
Around 3 a.m., an officer saw several vehicles pull into a commercial parking lot in the 6600 block of Electronic Drive in Springfield. The officer found a large group driving recklessly and in circles in the parking lot. Police say when the officer arrived, his cruiser was surrounded by people, and some tried to tear off the vehicle's license plate.
Editor's note: The above video is from a separate meetup in Maryland in February.
The officer called for backup, and it arrived, the group began to leave the parking lot.
One driver struck an officer and then sped off in their car. Another officer chased after the car, but eventually terminated the pursuit because of safety concerns.
Another driver was arrested and charged with reckless driving. Police say 18-year-old Carlos A. Martinez Jr. of Woodbridge drove down the wrong side of the road and crashed into a cruiser. He was released on a summons. Police described the officer's injuries as minor.
Video of the meetup surfaced on social media on the days following.
Police say the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are likely. Detectives have already obtained a warrant for a man from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and are working to serve that warrant.
Investigators say they will provide updates when they have them.
Reckless car meetups are a growing problem in the DMV. In February, a pop-up car rally quickly overwhelmed Takoma Park Police officers and worried neighbors.
Lawmakers in Maryland are looking to Ocean City for lessons on cracking down on crazy driving.
One House bill would mirror previous legislation that gave police and courts in the beachfront city the power to compel court appearances and punish offenders with steep fines and license suspensions.
The so-called "Street Racing and Exhibition Driving” bill would give the rest of Maryland's jurisdictions the same power, according to bill sponsor Del. Mary Lehman who represents portions of Prince George's and Anne Arundel counties.
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