INDIANAPOLIS – A national trend involving street racing, street take-overs and spinning has gotten the attention of the Indiana State Police and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. Within the past year ISP and IMPD have conducted several special operations targeting these illegal activities resulting in more than 40 arrests and the recovery of over 80 stolen vehicles.
The most recent special operation occurred March 4, 2023, at three locations in the Indianapolis area and resulted in nine arrests. Investigators are currently pursuing leads on others who were involved. IMPD and ISP investigators received information of a planned spinning event potentially involving over 100 cars. Spinning is a trend of utilizing a public park, a parking lot, a street, intersections or even an interstate to perform an action commonly referred to as a doughnut in a vehicle.
During these events, several vehicles are used to block roads or parking lots and dozens of bystanders put themselves in dangerous positions to try and record or touch the spinning cars. Often times these events are held without proper permits, or permission from the property owners. Once these cars leave the events it is very common to catch them illegally racing one another on the streets. The Indiana State Police recognizes there are legal and permitted spinning events in Indianapolis, the events being targeted are not those legally occurring.
One of the three targeted events March 4 involved a private parking lot near 34th and Lafayette Road. The owner of the parking lot did not grant permission for the event and had recently spent over $60,000 to resurface and paint his parking lot, which is now heavily damaged from this event.
Indiana State Police Area Five Investigations Commander, Lieutenant Jeff Hearon said. “The Indiana State Police will continue to commit necessary resources to target these illegal and dangerous events. Legitimate car clubs, concerned citizens and community members have played a vital role in providing information to assist detectives with these investigations. The disregard for public safety and personal property shown by these groups is egregious, and we are committed to holding them accountable for their reckless behavior.”
During these special operations, the Indiana State Police Helicopter and Aviation Section have played an important role to bring safe conclusion to those who choose to flee from officers.
Arrested March 4, 2023:
- Eusebio Felipe Moreno Jr. (21) – Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle
- Luis F. Campillo (18) – Criminal Recklessness
- Anthony Henderson (25) – Criminal Recklessness
- John L. Baker (20) – Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle; Criminal Recklessness
- Craig Murry (23) – Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle; Driving While Suspended; Reckless Driving
- Shelby Waugh (21) Resisting Law Enforcement (Misdemeanor)
- Marquis Gibbs (24) Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Patrick Gerlach (20) Criminal Recklessness
- Kadryn Williams (21) Criminal Recklessness
These investigations are ongoing and detectives expect more arrests as a result of the March 4 events. All crimes mentioned in this release are alleged and all suspects are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court. The charges listed were used as probable cause for arrest, actual charges will be determined by the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office upon review of the cases.
