Richmond Police arrest nine, impound vehicles in early-morning street takeover on Canal Boulevard

Richmond Police arrested nine people and impounded four vehicles during an early-morning street takeover in the 1300 block of Canal Boulevard on Saturday.

Officers responded to reports of a large sideshow around 12:21 a.m. and encountered over 200 people and more than 50 vehicles blocking the roadway.

As officers arrived on the scene, participants attempted to flee, driving on sidewalks, over medians, and traveling in the wrong direction to escape the area. Police deployed spike strips to disable one vehicle, leading to the arrest of its occupants.

Police said the incident highlights the city’s zero-tolerance stance toward sideshows, which are illegal in California and threaten public safety. “These reckless gatherings put lives at stake, from participants to bystanders,” Richmond Police said in a statement.

Each vehicle impounded will be held for 30 days, with charges pending for the arrested individuals.  

“Our officers are dedicated to keeping Richmond safe—let’s all do our part to discourage these dangerous activities,” police said.

Richmond police officials recently discussed concerns over sideshows with community members at last month's Crime Prevention meeting.

Thrills, spills, and bills: Richmond confronts rise in car sideshows

Richmond police officials spoke with community members at the Crime Prevention meeting last week to address escalating concerns over street sideshows. Both sides exchanged ideas on improving safety amid budgetary and resource challenges.

Grandview IndependentSoren Hemmila

Richmond is seeing an escalation in sideshows or gatherings where drivers perform stunts. These events now often feature multiple vehicles and large crowds. Once confined to single-car spins at isolated intersections, sideshows have evolved into multi-vehicle spectacles, drawing participants and spectators from across California, including Southern California and the Central Valley.

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