For the second time this week, Atlanta metro-area police have shared reports of street racers attacking a police car as officers responded to an intersection “takeover,” leading to multiple arrests.
In a Friday news release, Gwinnett County police announced the arrests of five people on charges related to two separate street racing incidents.
During the first, which took place April 3, police said a patrol car was damaged after it was attacked by onlookers when an officer responded to the scene at the intersection of Old Norcross and Britt roads.
A strikingly similar incident took place Sunday in Roswell, where a patrol car was attacked and damaged by the crowd gathered around cars laying drag at the intersection of Houze and Rucker roads.
Nearly three weeks after the April 3 incident, Gwinnett police announced the arrests of three men: 20-year-old Alan Thomas Rodriguez of Atlanta; 19-year-old Donovan Santiago Ramos-Hernandez of Norcross; and 17-year-old Jorge Coronado-Angel of Roswell. Gwinnett officials said Norcross and Roswell police helped make the latter two arrests.
Rodriguez is facing charges of laying drag, reckless driving and making false statements, police said. Ramos-Hernandez has been charged with interfering with government property, loitering, obstruction and promotion or organization of illegal drag racing.
Coronado-Angel was charged with the organization or promotion of illegal drag racing, police said. Roswell police spokesman Officer Tim Lupo said investigators were still working to determine if Coronado-Angel was involved in the Easter Sunday takeover of the Houze Road intersection. The three people arrested in that incident have not been publicly identified.
According to police, street racers were also active on Easter Sunday in Gwinnett. A takeover at the intersection of Peachtree Parkway and East Jones Bridge Road led to two more arrests in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
Brian Antonio-Garfias, 17, of Norcross, was arrested and charged with driving without a valid license and driving with an altered suspension, police said. William Anthony Valencia, 19, of Aragon, was also arrested and charged with reckless driving, speeding and racing.
Police in both Gwinnett and Roswell said their investigations into the street racing incidents remain active.
In the Gwinnett cases, anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at 770-513-5300. To remain anonymous, tipsters may contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477 or visit www.stopcrimeATL.com. Crime Stoppers tipsters can receive a cash reward for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case.
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