9 Charged In Illegal Street Racing In Hennepin County

MINNEAPOLIS — Nine different people are facing nearly twenty felonies related to illegal street racing, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Tuesday.

The nine defendants were charged with riot, criminal damage to property, child endangerment, and reckless driving. The charges stem from an investigation conducted by local police departments and the Minnesota State Patrol.

According to Freeman, street racing has led to the "complete shutdown" of high-traffic intersections throughout Minneapolis, including downtown, and in nearby suburbs,

Drivers block off intersections and spin their cars at high speeds while passengers hang out of the car windows.

One incident involved a 13-year-old hanging out of a window, authorities said. During other times, people will shoot guns or fireworks out of their cars during the "intersection take-overs."

"Street racing poses significant danger to the public. This activity has also resulted in tens of thousands of dollars in damage to public and private property," Freeman stated.

"The conduct is incredibly risky for no reason. The time has come for this reckless and audacious lawlessness to end."

Charges in other cases are expected, the attorney's office said.

"We will fully prosecute all of these cases. I will also ensure that we pursue all avenues to stop this unlawful activity, including the use of civil asset forfeiture where appropriate to seize the vehicles used in the commission of these offenses," Freeman added.

"We are advising law enforcement to seize these vehicles. Whether they are spinning out of control in an intersection or blocking the area from traffic and law enforcement, these vehicles may be permanently seized."