There seems to be little that can be done to stop the dangerous trend of reckless car stunts plaguing New Orleans city streets.
Over this past weekend, there was no shortage of drivers showing off by doing dangerous ‘donuts’ for spectators crowding and blocking city streets.
In one video, a muscle car can be seen doing donuts with a man riding on top at the intersection of Calliope and Annunciation Streets when suddenly the man falls off from the force and then is hit by the car as it swings back around in the ‘donut’ maneuver.
Another video at an unidentified intersection in New Orleans shows crowds of people stopping traffic as cars do ‘burnouts’. An NOPD officer arrives on the scene in his marked police vehicle but is then overtaken by spectators, who climb on top of the cop car as it tries to disburse the crowd alone.
And a separate video also taken over the weekend, shows traffic at a standstill on Chef Menteur and Downman Road as a reckless driver does ‘donuts’ in the middle of the street.
"This is what happens when you set the bar low. You get this type of criminal behavior. This is the beginning of the breakdown of an ordered and structured society when a police officer can no longer answer the call without having the mob, try and stand in between the officer’s response to the otherwise, criminal behavior,” said WWL’s Newell Normand as he addressed the weekend’s dangerous car stunts.
The stunts prompted a response from New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson.
Chief Ferguson says he is working with State Police and city council members to bring stiffer criminal charges to reckless stunt drivers and spectators blocking the streets.
“Just on yesterday, we responded to at least four different locations with these types of activities, some of these incidents involve weapons being brandished,” said Ferguson.
Chief Ferguson also says the stunt shows that took over city streets were advertised across social media.
“We cannot continue to allow our city…to have individuals come to our city, with a plan in place as to how they are going to ‘take over’ our city. That is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” said Ferguson.
At today’s press conference Ferguson was surrounded by support from State Police officials, and city leaders such as City Councilmember Oliver Thomas.
“They titled this ‘the takeover’,” said Thomas. “They were on social media talking about how they were going to take over our city. Well, try to figure out how to take over that 10x12 they are going to put you in. Because the chief, as he said today, you will not disrespect the men and woman of our police department anymore.”
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Mayor LaToya Cantrell today issued the following statement
"The reckless criminal behavior that continues to occur on our streets poses a threat to public safety and is completely unacceptable," said Mayor Cantrell. "These brazen actions have accelerated to a complete disregard and blatant disrespect for law enforcement. This ends now! The dedicated women and men of the New Orleans Police Department have pledged their lives to protecting and keeping the public safe. We must show them the gratitude and respect they’ve earned. My administration stands with the New Orleans Police Department as they seek to increase criminal penalties associated with this type of behavior, and as they relentlessly pursue all perpetrators who place the public at risk."