A 20-year-old Paramount man suspected of being a leading organizer of street takeovers in Southern California was arrested but later released, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said Feb. 8.
“This arrest is significant not only for the City of Los Angeles but also for the Southern California region,” the LAPD said in a statement Thursday.
Investigators of the LAPD’s Street Racing Task Force, alongside the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Paramount Station and California Highway Patrol, conducted a residential search around 5 a.m. on Feb. 7 leading to the arrest of Erick Romero Quintana, according to the LAPD.
Mr. Quintana was booked on suspicion of conspiracy but was cited and released, police said. He could face multiple felony counts associated with organizing street takeover events.
With over 70,000 followers on social media, Mr. Quintana is believed to have orchestrated events across Southern California, police said. These events include large-scale takeovers, smash-and-grab robberies, vehicle thefts, and other violent crimes including murder.
