Dangerous intersection takeover in Fort Lauderdale led to arrests and seizures
Fort Lauderdale, Florida – Several members of an intersection takeover crew were arrested in Fort Lauderdale, and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office seized six cars and two guns during the incident. The Burglary Apprehension Team (B.A.T.) arrested the individuals and cited dozens of spectators for their involvement.
The sheriff’s office said over the last few months, the crew of reckless drivers have been performing dangerous stunts such as donuts, burnouts, and street racing. These stunts endanger the lives of other drivers and pedestrians.
The B.A.T. detectives gathered information regarding an intersection takeover on Prospect Road and NW 33rd Ave in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, March 3. The drivers, including Mark Quallo, 40, Brandon McLean, 22, and Tyler Barber, 19, were witnessed drifting and performing other risky and reckless maneuvers. Videos from the takeover show how dangerous the stunts are and how close they are performed to the public. Drivers would spin out, causing large clouds of smoke to envelope the crowd. The drivers then moved onto 6415 North Andrews Avenue in Fort Lauderdale, which is the plaza with a movie theater and other businesses.
Deputies said they witnessed members of the public, including young children, exiting the movie theater. That’s when deputies worked quickly to stop the takeover before anyone else could get hurt. Quallo, McLean, and Barber were arrested for speeding and racing on a highway. Six cars were seized, and two firearms, including an AK-47 with extended magazines, were confiscated from Quallo. Deputies also gave non-criminal traffic citations to eight spectators who viewed the activity.
Sheriff Tony stated that “none of this is a light offense. None of this is joyriding. None of this is just young kids having fun. We’re going to continue to be aggressive. We’re going to continue to go after these individuals. Expect us to take your car and take you to jail. This is your official warning. Stop the nonsense on our streets before you kill somebody.”
The three men were charged with stunt driving, which is a new law that went into effect in October. This law recognizes the seriousness of these dangerous stunts and holds individuals accountable for their actions. The Broward County Sheriff’s Office encourages the public to report reckless driving and other criminal activity on the streets. They will continue to take necessary measures to ensure the safety of the community.
