St. Louis City Police dispatched the mobile response unit to the intersection of Holly Hills and Leona but a number of officers were called off due to a firefighter aide call. The mobile reserve commander surveilled the group of an estimated 100 cars drifting through the street and followed them around the city. When the rest of his unit was able to join him, they began spiking the vehicles.
"There were up to fifty vehicles spiked that were engaged in this dangerous and reckless behavior," says Police Spokesman Mitch McCoy, emphasizing these activities won't be tolerated by the department.
However none of the spiked vehicles were impounded and only one crashed. McCoy says they chose to prioritize spiking over chasing and impounding.
"It's a game of cat and mouse. Which car do you go after? So in this strategy, everybody got spiked."
McCoy says up to 50 vehicles were spiked Sunday evening.
Asked if just spiking vehicles is enough of a deterrence against these slide shows, McCoy paused before answering, "I think it is going to cost [the drivers] a lot of money today."
McCoy adds the department has been in touch with local tire shops to be on the lookout for cars with tires that have been spiked.
State Representative Steve Butz, who shared a viral video of the drivers drifting through Leona and Holly Hills, thinks flat tires alone isn't enough.
"I don't really think [spiking cars] is enough to deter that."
Butz would like to see some vehicles impounded.
"50 vehicles were spiked, zero were impounded. That just strikes me as a crazy number," said Butz, adding "they said we can't go after all 50 and I get that but you think we would've gotten three."
No arrests were made Sunday evening, but the juvenile behind the wheel of the crashed car turned himself in. Charges against him are pending.
How does the local community feel about the police response? KMOX spoke with Ray Dupske, who lives around the corner from where the slideshow was filmed. He thinks impounding vehicles could help if it's worth it.
"Well obviously if they could impound the cars that would have a big effect on [the drivers] but as far as chasing them, I don't know that it's worth the risk."
Dan who lives on Holly Hills says he's glad something was done when asked if the spikes strips were enough.
"My biggest concern was how reckless they were driving... what if a car gets out of control and hits somebody and then you get somebody seriously injured."
Tony Dehntjer lives a block away from Holly Hills and Leona and is a former police officer. He says the lack of manpower for the City Police Department has allowed this to happen.
"If you look at the traffic just going on in St. Louis now, the crazy driving, these people are doing this stuff because there are no consequences. Nobody writes tickets on anything anymore."