Police arrested more than 180 people gathered at an illegal street racing site in an industrial area near Ontario International Airport early this morning, authorities said.
Among those arrested were two drivers and a “flagger,” who signals the start of the race, who were booked on misdemeanor charges, given citations and released, said Sgt. David McBride of the Ontario Police Department.
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Authorities also picked up 184 spectators who were lining the streets to watch the race. They were given citations for watching the illegal activity. Of the 184, 47 were juveniles who also were cited for violation of the city’s 10 p.m. curfew.
Several of the spectators also had cars that were illegally modified for street racing, and many of them may have been looking for opportunities to race, McBride said.
More than 100 officers from 12 agencies, including the Ontario police, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, Riverside Police Department and California Highway Patrol were involved in the arrest, which took place shortly before 1 a.m. on Airport Drive west of Etiwanda Avenue. The officers were part of a task force targeting street racing in different cities, McBride said.
He described the location of the race as a long, straight stretch of Airport Drive with a sharp curve at the end, with little traffic during on weekends. There have been racing-related crashes there in the past. Crowds of people often cruise the streets between industrial complexes on weekend nights looking for impromptu races, he said.
The two drivers and flagger were identified as Andrew Douglas Verdugo, 19, of Fontana; Miguel Angel Sanchez, 26, of San Bernardino, and Ivan Edgar Aguayo, 23, of Rancho Cucamonga. All three face the same misdemeanor charges of illegal speed contest, but McBride said he did not immediately know which two were racing.
The drivers’ cars were impounded for 30 days, and 74 other cars were towed away when their owners were arrested.
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