A lot of drivers are probably really missing their cars right now.
That’s because the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office has released only 13 of the vehicles it impounded earlier this year ago during a massive illegal sideshow.
Scores of cars converged Feb. 3 to take over the intersection at Country Club Boulevard and Pershing Avenue. Authorities said a sheriff’s deputy was struck by a vehicle that fled in the chaos. Three people were arrested, more than 150 others were detained and later released and more than 80 cars were seized at the time.
Nine months later, authorities are still hanging on to 76 vehicles from cases deemed “under investigation.”
San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow said in a video posted on Facebook the department recently made additional arrests in the case, including taking into custody the driver accused of striking a deputy as he fled the scene.
At least when it comes to shutting down sideshows, the vehicle seizures appear to have been a success. Sheriff’s officials report no new sideshows in the county since February.
“We’re proud to report that our efforts to eliminate these dangerous events are working,” the sheriff said in a statement.
“We will remain vigilant in making sure sideshows and any further violent behavior stay off our streets.”
The Sheriff’s Office has forwarded about 250 cases from the incident to the district attorney’s office, Withrow said.
Until those cases make their way through the system, Withrow says his department will continue to hold onto the vehicles.