Multiple arrests made as part of ongoing ‘street occupancy’ investigation in Austin

Austin, Texas – Seven arrests were made in connection with last weekend’s “street occupancy” that took place in Austin.

APD chief Joseph Chacon addressed the public and the media on Tuesday afternoon.

“I felt that we needed more information to be able to provide it before this press conference,” Chief Chacon said. “That’s why it took until today.”

Several law enforcement agencies were involved in the investigation, including the Travis County Sheriff’s Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the New Braunfels Police Department, the San Marcos Police Department, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Department, the San Antonio Police Department, the Hayes County Sheriff’s Department, the Police Department Live Oak, Selma Police Department. and the Dallas police.

The first 911 call came in around 9 p.m. from the intersection of South Lamar Boulevard. and Barton Springs Road. Eyewitness video shows a chaotic scene of donut making machines, fireworks exploding and some people bursting into flames. 41 APD patrol units responded to this initial incident.

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“The car clubs continued to travel to several other areas of the city and it looks like they finally shut down just before 4 a.m.,” Chef Chacon said.

Several 911 calls were received throughout the night, with the longest wait time being 27 minutes, according to Chief Chacon.

That Saturday, February 18, from 21:00 to 21:30, 12 call center employees received 266 calls. The previous Saturday, during the same time window, 16 employees answered 65 calls.

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“This is clearly unacceptable,” Chef Chacon said. “We’ve been working on the call center problem for quite some time. We have made great strides and received more candidates than ever before in recent history, but it takes time to hire and train them,” Chief Chacon said. “I even have sworn employees who are now in the 911 call center and taking 911 calls instead of being on the street.”

As of Tuesday, one person has been arrested by traffic police and six people have been arrested by traffic police in connection with a weekend event. They face charges including evading arrest, drug possession and illegal possession of weapons.

“My strong message to those who want to do this, don’t do it,” Chef Chacon said, noting that they are well into the spring season despite a shortage of staff.

“We are fully staffed in terms of security for Spring Festival and South by Southwest,” Chief Chacon said. “And we will have teams deployed in case of this kind of activity.”

On Sunday, the APD conducted a tactical operational readiness exercise to enable officers to respond effectively if similar events occur in the future.

Chief Chacon said the APD received one message from the San Antonio Police Department before Saturday, but no time or place was given.