INDIANAPOLIS — IMPD officers arrested two people for reckless driving near Riverside Park over the weekend.
Around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, IMPD Northwest District officers were in the area of Riverside Park, located at 2420 East Riverside Drive, on the city's near northwest side.
Officers were patrolling the area due to recent complaints of reckless driving and "spinning" during large gatherings on Sundays.
An IMPD officer, who is a trained drone operator, was flying his department-issued drone overhead and heard screeching tires in the park, which was later determined to be coming from a silver Dodge Charger.
Officers saw a large crowd watching the car perform burnouts and donuts in the parking lot. IMPD also said a passenger was seen hanging out of an open passenger door.
As the car drove out of the park, an IMPD officer pulled it over. The driver, identified as a 22-year-old Indianapolis man, immediately pulled over, and officers took him into custody without incident.
He was arrested and later charged with criminal recklessness, reckless driving and possession of marijuana.
Around the same time, officers saw a tan Toyota Camry speeding eastbound on Burdsal Parkway toward Fall Creek Boulevard.
Officers said the car was tailgating another car and trying to pass it in a clearly-marked no-passing zone.
An officer then stopped the car, and police said the 23-year-old driver got out of the car. The officer learned the Indianapolis man's license was suspended.
While searching the car, officers found a black pistol with an extended magazine between the seat and center console.
Officers also confirmed the man had a previous armed robbery conviction in 2018, qualifying him as a serious violent felon and prohibiting from carrying a gun.
Police arrested the man, and prosecutors charged him with unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and driving while suspended.
Anyone with additional information on these incidents is asked to call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.