Milwaukee mayor, community leaders work on solutions to stop street takeovers

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson joined the city's police chief and District Attorney on Friday to discuss solutions to the growing trend of "street takeovers."

The dangerous gatherings disrupt traffic and drain police resources. We've seen videos of cars and large groups taking over intersections, setting off fireworks, and doing donuts and burnouts for onlookers, garnering social media attention. 

Friday morning, Mayor Johnson warned this has to stop before someone gets hurt.

"Like the vast majority of people in Milwaukee who see these videos, who unfortunately are in neighborhoods where this activity has happened, I'm angry. I'm upset," Johnson said.

It is not only happening in Milwaukee. Mayor Johnson said dangerous street takeovers have been popularized in other communities across the country.

"We're lucky that the street takeover activities that have happened here in Milwaukee have not resulted in somebody dying," he said, noting that has happened in other cities, like Los Angeles.

Johnson told reporters that he has met with mayors across the country to discuss ways to stop the trend.

Milwaukee County's District Attorney, Kent Lovern, promises to prosecute those involved.

"No one in any neighborhood in our community should put up with the type of activity we're talking about here today," Lovern said. "No one should have to see it, no one should have to listen to it, no one should have to worry about it."

Milwaukee's Police Chief Jeffrey Norman calls it a collaborative effort, as Milwaukee Police Department is working with the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office and Wisconsin State Patrol to respond accordingly.

"We'll come and find you, and we'll tow your car, and we'll arrest you," Norman said.  "These are pop-ups. This is not something that is always planned, in regard to street takeovers. So, It's difficult to be in front of this,"

In June, Mayor Johnson endorsed an ordinance change to issue $500 fines to anyone participating, even onlookers.

The proposal has since stalled in the common council.

Alderman Scott Spiker, chairman of the city's Public Safety Committee, said they're looking at their options.

"We have to devise something that will not catch innocent bystanders, not catch somebody who says 'hey, I just saw a lot of people gathering around, so I walked up'," Spiker explained. "So, that has to be crafted."

Law enforcement is digging into social media, and city leaders want anyone who sees or hears about a takeover to call 911.

"Somebody's going to end up getting hurt," Mayor Johnson said. "Somebody's going to end up dying from this sort of activity, and I don't want that to be your child. I don't want that to be your niece, your nephew, some person you care about. So please, do your part as well and discourage this sort of behavior." 

Johnson is also working with the Department of Public Works to consider re-designing certain intersections in a way that would prevent takeover activity.

It's a measure the mayor says has been taken by other cities for the same reason.