Midtown residents who live near the iconic rainbow crosswalks may have been awakened by screeching tires and revving car engines the past two weekends.
Street racers have staged overnight “sideshows,” laying drag at the intersection of 10th Street and Piedmont Avenue late Feb. 21 and Feb. 28. Cellphone video showed dozens of spectators blocking off traffic to watch muscle cars do doughnuts in the road.
The impromptu stunt shows have left the landmark intersection with skid marks that Atlanta Department of Transportation workers have cleaned the past two weeks. On Thursday, police officials said investigators have identified several of the people involved in the illegal events.
“This investigation is still fluid in nature, however we have identified several individuals and their vehicles,” said Deputy Chief Carven Tyus, who leads the police department’s Community Services division.
Carven gave a briefing of the ongoing investigation in a video released by the police department Thursday night. He said the department’s homeland security unit has been integral in helping investigators identify the culprits. Many of the suspects have proven not to be Atlanta residents, according to Tyus.
“(They’re) simply people who drove into our city to conduct their foolishness,” he said.
Street racing has been an ongoing issue in Atlanta and beyond for years. In August 2020, Atlanta approved an ordinance that sets penalties of up to a $1,000 fine or six months in jail for those who attend street racing events, even if they are not driving in them.
Tyus stressed the police force’s refrain that the city has “zero tolerance” for the racers defacing the crosswalks. In both of the recent cases, the crowds and racers fled the scene before police arrived.
Video footage of the events has surfaced on social media and has been shared extensively.
The crosswalks were initially installed temporarily for Atlanta Pride in 2015. Then in 2017, for the one-year anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, then-Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced that they would become permanent in recognition of the contributions of the city’s LGBTQ community.
Police say the racers likely targeted the intersection because they were seeking attention, not because they are anti-LGBTQ.
“I can assure the citizens of Atlanta that we have a robust plan in place, and that we will be able to address any more illegal activity that occurs at this intersection,” Tyus said.
Investigators ask anyone with information to share it with authorities. Tipsters can remain anonymous, and be eligible for rewards of up to $2,000, by contacting Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, texting information to 274637 or visiting the Crime Stoppers website.
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