Berwyn Teen Charged In Street Takeover At 111th Street And LaGrange

PALOS HILLS, IL — Hundreds of cars took over an intersection in unincorporated Palos Township on May 6, resulting in the arrest of a Berwyn teen who tried to flee police, reports said.

Palos Hills police assisted Cook County Sheriff’s Police after more than 200 cars had taken over the intersection of 111th Street and LaGrange Road. When officers arrived, the vehicles had blocked the intersection. Vehicles were “drifting,” or doing donuts, in the intersection while a large crowd watched.

Axel Palacios, 18, of Berwyn was arrested after his parents turned him into police, reports said. Palacios was charged with fleeing and eluding police after he was observed driving over curbs, through red lights, and into oncoming traffic, all while taunting police, reports said.

Street takeovers have been an issue in Chicago and are starting to spread to the suburbs, where dozens of vehicles converge at an intersection or in a parking lot. The highly planned, tightly controlled takeovers last just a few minutes, but they intimidate and cause anxiety among the public, who feel powerless to control it. Most of these incidents last for only a few minutes.

A similar takeover was reported on May 2 in Hometown, where about 70 cars took over a parking lot at a mosque.

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'Hot Rods To Hell:' Illegal Street Takeover Causes Mayhem In Hometown