Delaware State Police said it is working with the community to “deter unruly behavior” at unsanctioned car meetups after an incident in Pike Creek on Saturday night left residents demanding action.
Videos of the car meet posted on social media showed a large group of people and cars inside the Pike Creek Shopping Center parking lot. Cars could be seen skidding around in donuts and loudly revving their engines until police arrived to disband the rally. One nearby resident posted on Facebook that they could hear the cars from inside their house even with the TV on.
State police said there were no collisions or injuries caused by Saturday’s meet. A spokesperson said multiple traffic citations were issued and their vehicles were towed for 72 hours in accordance with the law.
MORE:Highmark said a 6-year-old’s treatment wasn’t covered. The community changed its mind
Have car meets turned violent?
Unsanctioned car meets are not always nonviolent, though.
A 17-year-old boy from the New Castle area was fatally shot at a car meet outside the Delaware Logistics Center in Red Lion on Aug. 20, according to state police. A 21-year-old man was also shot in the foot.
MORE:Police identify teen boy shot dead during unauthorized car meet near Red Lion early Sunday
At another car meet on the same block in July, bullets struck multiple occupied vehicles. No injuries were reported.
How often are these meet-ups happening?
Delaware State Police spokesperson Senior Cpl. Leonard DeMalto said that while the department does not have an official count, car meets tend to be most frequent during the summer. And while the rallies do not appear to be happening more often than in previous years, DeMalto said it seems like more people are attending them than in the past.
Many of the car meets are organized on social media, and state police are working to use tips from the community to plan for the rallies in advance.
Send story tips or ideas to Hannah Edelman at hedelman@delawareonline.com. For more reporting, follow them on Twitter at @h_edelman.
