Teens Charged After Being Arrested At Illegal MD Car Rallies: Police

PASADENA, MD — Several arrests were made over the weekend as the Maryland Car Rally Task Force worked to break up illegal car rallies across the state.

The Maryland Car Rally Task Force is a collaborative cross-county initiative undertaken by multiple police agencies. The latest weekend investigations included operations in Temple Hills, Capitol Heights, Hanover and Elkridge.

Two of the individuals identified in arrests were Payton Frazier, a 19-year-old from Pasadena, and 18-year-old Steven Javier Cruze-Benetiz, of Silver Spring.

Frazier was charged with a failure to obey a lawful command and resisting arrest after he "became disorderly during an on-scene police investigation," according to Maryland State Police.

Related: Police Cruisers Smashed During Illegal Car Rally

He was later released on his own recognizance on Saturday after being processed in Prince George's County. Frazier has a court appearance scheduled for July 15.

Cruze-Benetiz, however, was hit with several charges, including:

• Reckless endangerment
• First- and second-degree assault
• Aggravated assault with a firearm
• Possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle

Two other teens, both aged 17, were arrested and released to their parents. One individual was from Laurel, while the other was from Fairfax, Virginia.

Maryland State Police said in a release that the Fairfax teen was charged with possession of a loaded firearm on a person, possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, among other related charges.

Related:

• Two Arrests Made In Illegal MD Car Rallies

• 2 Arrested As Police Crack Down On 8 Illegal Car Rallies In 4 MD Counties

Although State Police said the Laurel teen was found "in possession of a replica firearm," officials did not state whether charges were filed in the case.

The arrests are the latest in a series of similar actions taken by police. Efforts to clamp down on illegal car rallies have been underway for months.