Seizing vehicles new tool to deter Portland street racing

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Tire tracks remain clearly visible on the roads where street takeovers took place in Portland this past weekend. But law enforcement used a relatively new tactic at the takeover in Northeast Portland Saturday night.

After Oregon lawmakers increased the penalties for street racing and street takeovers in 2023, responding officers can now seize vehicles that were involved.

NE Portland street takeover leads to arrests, tows, gun

“There have been homicides associated with these related to crashes, people getting run over. Gun violence is a big one. Drunk driving,” said PPB Lt. Chadd Stensgaard.

There were more than 300 street takeovers in Portland last year, he said. That’s why Oregon lawmakers upped the penalties for those involved, including forfeiting a vehicle.

“We’re trying to send a message that if you come to Portland and you participate in these street takeover events, we’re going to take your car,” Stensgaard said.

The stats from the multi-agency mission showed a total of 33 cars were towed (with 6 under forfeiture), 12 people arrested, several stolen cars recovered and at least one gun seized.

Three deputy district attorneys were along for the mission and Stensgaard said the DA’s office is “taking the prosecution of these cases very seriously. They’re taking the asset forfeiture piece of it very seriously.”

In Portland’s Hazelwood neighborhood, residents who spoke with KOIN 6 News said street racing and street takeovers are common. One said it happens every few months, another said it started since the pandemic, but most are thankful police are finally cracking down.

“I’m surprised that innocent people aren’t killed. Of course, it’s in the middle of the night usually, but there’s not a lot of pedestrians out,” said Bob Earnest with the Hazelwood Neighborhood Association. “But I can’t imagine that they would stop because someone needed to cross the street. That’s not going to happen, certainly.”

Stensgaard said this kind of mission may not have been as successful a year ago. But with more officers on overtime to give the bureau the manpower to intervene, he’s hopeful for more.

“We don’t find out where they’re going to go until the very last minute,” Stensgaard said. “And then it’s a mad scramble to develop a plan to deal with whatever people they have there. When you have 60 police officers and 300 people you have to be pretty strategic about the things you’re doing.”

1 arrested, multiple vehicles seized in Swan Island street takeover: PPB

The Portland Police Bureau is also set to get $100,000 from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission to fund more missions to break up the street racers. But the commission said they have not officially granted the money just yet.

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