Law enforcement agencies across the National Capital Region broke up multiple, massive illegal car rallies this weekend across Prince George’s, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, and Howard counties.
According to Maryland State Police (MSP), a coordinated operation took place between 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, and 4 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 22.
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The Maryland Car Rally Task Force, consisting of MSP and municipal departments from Prince George’s, Montgomery, Howard, and Baltimore counties, as well as Baltimore City and the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, organized the event.
Officials claimed high-visibility patrols and early intervention efforts prevented crowds of up to 300 people in some areas from staging street takeovers involving exhibition driving, unruly conduct, and road closures.
MSP stated that enforcement actions took place in Bowie, Camp Springs, Silver Spring, Upper Marlboro, Chevy Chase, Forestville, and Hanover.
Troopers in Camp Springs nabbed the driver and passenger in a black Dodge Charger. The driver was identified as 19-year-old Jossel Joan Maldonado Sanabria of Fayetteville, North Carolina.
His passenger was a 17-year-old Falls Church, Virginia, resident.
According to MSP, both are facing an individual charge of possessing a loaded firearm and have been brought to the Prince George’s County Detention Center.
Officers discovered a number of automobiles in Montgomery County shortly after midnight, linked to street takeover activities that began in Prince George’s County.
Police observed the group and subsequently restricted access to several intersections. The gang eventually gathered at the crossroads of East-West Highway and Connecticut Avenue, where they did donuts and blocked traffic.
The Montgomery County Police Department reported that no officers were hurt during the incident, but two marked police cruisers were damaged.
Additional law enforcement forces intervened, causing the gathering to disperse. Vehicles also fled the county.
