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'Street takeover' phenomenon taking over the Valley

Posted at 9:38 PM, Dec 10, 2019
and last updated 2019-12-11 00:18:02-05

AVONDALE, AZ — A "street takeover" phenomenon is taking over the Valley.

Several videos circulating around social media show groups of men and women meeting at numerous locations and watching as drivers perform dangerous maneuvers - and in some cases - putting lives at risk.

RELATED: Phoenix police looking into 'street takeover' in Laveen

The latest video captured near 107th Avenue and Indian School Road shows drivers doing "donuts" in the middle of the intersection.

“It looked a little dangerous after a minute or two of actually seeing it," said Annalisa Hop, who lives just a few hundred feet away.

Her family was asleep inside but could still hear several cars skidding across the pavement. “The way the car was looking around like that I was worried someone will get hit," added Davina Hop, Annalisa's sister-in-law.

The Instagram account AZSundayFunday posted several videos from the December 7 incident showing cars as they skid across the road and one car spinning and then hitting a handful of people nearby.

“Maybe people definitely shouldn't be standing so close, but yeah, I mean that there are better ways to have fun," added Davina.

ABC15 reached out to Avondale police for comment, who said:

"Our officers were dispatched to both areas and all vehicles left the area prior to the arrival of the officer. No arrests were made and no injuries were reported that we are aware of. While the actions taken by the individuals is dangerous, we are monitoring the situation."

The department has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the video showing several bystanders being hurt.

"If anybody calls and sees that type of activity we will respond," said Phoenix Police Sergeant Mercedes Fortune, when speaking to ABC15 on November 20 regarding a separate incident in Laveen.

"It is something that we're responding to and right now we're trying to see how proactive we can be about maybe identifying those locations, but we are aware of them."