Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Creates Task Force to Grab Streets

Austin (CBSNewsTexas) – Gov. Greg Abbott has created a statewide street takeover task force to address an issue facing many North Texas cities, including Dallas, Fort Worth and most recently Austin.

On Thursday, February 23, Governor Abbott directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to deal with dangerous street takeovers taking place across Texas.

“These street takeovers put the lives of Texans and Texas law enforcement at risk,” DPS Director Stephen McCraw said in a press release. “We see fireworks firing at officers in the crowd, lasers aimed at aircraft, drivers moving at over 130 mph with their lights off in the dark of the night – all of this is reckless and needs to be stopped.”

The announcement comes days after a video of an uncontrolled street takeover in Austin went viral. Dozens of cars were damaged, one policeman was wounded.

“People stood in the middle of the street trying to grab the cars, clinging to the cars when they were spinning, they were thrown out of the cars, people hung flags. You have to contain it somehow, otherwise it is anarchy. Barton Springs Saloon property manager William Rabel told CBS 11 News.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson called the incident “illegal and outrageous.”

The newly created task force will be led by members of the DPS Criminal Investigations, Texas Highway Patrol, Air Operations, and Intelligence and Counterterrorism, according to the Governor’s office. These agencies will also work with local law enforcement throughout the state.

“Despite the foolish efforts of some local officials to defund and demoralize our brave law enforcement officers, Texas has been and remains a state of law and order,” the Governor said in a statement. “We need to send a clear message that these reckless, coordinated criminal activities are unacceptable in Texas.”