INDIANAPOLIS — Neighbors on the near north side of Indianapolis want more to be done after years of street takeovers. They say for almost a decade, large crowds have taken over West 29th and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. streets every Sunday night.
"For me and what I've heard from many residents, it gives the neighborhood a bad name," Rev. Charles Harrison said.
Last Sunday was the largest crowd Harrison said he's seen so far. He told 13News a lot of these takeovers lead to gunfire and people getting hurt.
"I think residents of this neighborhood deserve to be in a safe and peaceful environment, and we don't get that on Sundays," Harrison said.
When it gets warmer, Harrison said there will be even more takeovers. But he wants to talk with city leaders and police right now to find solutions to stop it.
"Surely, car shows are legal if they are done in a right way," IMPD Lt. Shane Foley said. "We encourage people to gather to have fun. We want people to do it in a safe, responsible and legal way."
But IMPD says that's not what they're seeing. The department says takeovers happen all year long.
IMPD said officers will continue to go out to these neighborhoods, but the department is relying on people to report the incidents.
Harrison said if more reports come in, more takeovers will be stopped.
"Don't be silent about it, and speak up," Harrison said. "If this is something you don't want in your neighborhood, the leadership of this city need to hear your voice, and you have to be vocal and say something."