Teen Slams Car into Chicago Cops, Five Injured
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A shocking video out of Chicago is reigniting concerns over the growing wave of so-called “teen takeovers” sweeping major American cities after a young driver allegedly slammed a vehicle into a police cruiser while mobs of cheering onlookers surrounded officers in the street. Click here to watch the video.
The chaos unfolded during an overnight street takeover near Grant Park, where video footage captured a vehicle ramming a Chicago police car and pushing it backward as crowds gathered around the officers, according to FOX 32 Chicago. Witnesses could be seen recording the mayhem on their cell phones while others jumped on the hood of the police cruiser and taunted officers.
Chicago Police said the incident happened around 12:43 a.m. near South Columbus Drive and East Balbo Drive. Authorities arrested 19-year-old Maximus Wyderski of Crestwood, who was charged with misdemeanor reckless driving and fleeing police along with multiple vehicle citations, according to Fox News.
“A video Fox Chicago obtained shows a car hitting and ramming a Chicago Police car down the street as several people are running up to them, cheering and recording the incident,” FOX 32 reported.
The frightening confrontation is just the latest example of what law enforcement officials say is an exploding trend of “teen takeovers” — large, often violent gatherings organized through social media that have transformed city intersections, beaches, shopping districts and parking lots into scenes of chaos.
According to the New York Post, police sources described the events as turning city centers into scenes from “The Purge,” with fights, shootings, stampedes and attacks on officers becoming increasingly common.
“People chasing internet notoriety organize the meetups online, which spread like wildfire,” the Post reported, noting that incidents have erupted from Florida to Virginia to Illinois and New York.
In Chicago alone, police have battled repeated teen takeover incidents in recent months. ABC 7 Chicago previously reported that large groups of teens descended on Hyde Park, vandalizing cars and overwhelming officers responding to the disturbances.
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling has warned that the gatherings are becoming increasingly dangerous and difficult to control as mobs rapidly assemble through viral social media posts, according to ABC 7 Chicago.
Critics say soft-on-crime policies and a lack of accountability are emboldening young offenders who appear increasingly willing to target police officers directly.
Video from the latest Chicago takeover appeared to show revelers laughing and cheering as the police cruiser was battered and shoved backward through the street.