At least one arrest made in connection to Austin 'street takeovers'

At least one person was arrested in connection with a series of "street takeover" incidents throughout Austin this weekend, according to court documents.

Austin police and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers worked from about 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. responding to multiple locations where large groups were reported to be driving recklessly.

The first incident law enforcement responded to was at Payton Gin and Ohlen roads in North Austin, where teenagers in about 40 to 50 vehicles were doing burnouts and hanging out the windows in a Target parking lot, Austin police said.

Previously: Law enforcement responds to four 'street takeover' incidents throughout Austin

The DPS said on Sunday that a wreck occurred in connection with this incident after a trooper started pursuing a white Ford Mustang. That car then struck a passenger vehicle with a male and female in the car. Austin-Travis County EMS officials said first responders took three patients to the hospital, of which one person had serious injuries.

Police then found the drivers at the intersection of Barton Springs Road and South Lamar Boulevard, where the group continued driving dangerously and using fireworks, according to officials.

The drivers then went to a parking lot in the 9900 block of South Interstate 35 service road, police said, before moving to the 8600 block of North Mopac Expressway. Police did not say if any illegal activity happened at either of these locations, but they said several vehicles were gathered at both locations and police responded to "ensure no illegal activity occurred."

Austin police responded to the final incident of the night in the 400 block of Center Ridge Drive. After officers cleared the area, the group moved a couple of blocks away, where officials say 21 vehicles were racing in a parking lot.

Court records suggest a DPS trooper made an arrest in connection to the final incident. An arrest affidavit shows that the trooper arrested the suspect on a charge of evading arrest, a state jail felony that carries the possibility of six months to two years in jail, plus a $10,000 fine.

In the court document, trooper John Hamilton said he was working with other DPS troopers to "stop Austin Takeover and street racing events." Hamilton said he observed multiple vehicles doing doughnuts and driving recklessly in a parking lot off Howard Lane in Northwest Austin.

The crowd dispersed, but some people stayed behind and stood outside of their vehicles, the affidavit says. Hamilton said he approached to temporarily detain them while determining if there was probable cause to arrest them.

Once the trooper approached, one of the males, 19-year-old Yurison Corrales Hidalgo, started running toward his car. The affidavit shows that the trooper ordered Hidalgo to stop, to which he indicated he only spoke Spanish. Hamilton said he then gave the order in Spanish.

Hidalgo then drove away, and the trooper to pursued him. Hamilton eventually arrested Hidalgo after he stopped and surrendered near 825 E. Howard Lane.

Austin police said they are still "gathering details" and will update the public when more information is available when asked if there were any other arrests made.

The DPS did not immediately respond to a request about how many arrest were made by troopers that night in connection to the street takeovers.

Responding to a tweet about the takeovers, Gov. Greg Abbott touted DPS's presence in Austin, saying that even though the city "tried to eliminate DPS," he did' not. Earlier in the month, the city ended its partnership with DPS and Abbott responded by sending even more troopers to the city.

"Public safety is a top priority in every city across the state," Abbott said in the tweet. "DPS will be deployed as needed to every city--including Austin--to do everything possible to maintain safety."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: At least one arrest made in connection to Austin 'street takeovers'