'Not Gonna Happen Here': MA Gov. Healey Warns Flash Drag Racing Mobs, Illegal Street Takeovers

BOSTON — Gov. Maura Healey issued a scolding and warning to those who organize what she called illegal street takeovers and drag racing mobs on Wednesday after a string of recent incidents that led to burned police cars, injured officers, delayed emergency vehicle responses and extensive property damage.

"End this trend," she said during a news conference. "Zero tolerance for this in the Commonwealth. Not gonna happen here. And if you do it, you're going to be punished.

"I'm serious."

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She said in one of the incidents in Fall River over the weekend, which she said drew hundreds of racers and onlookers, an ambulance was forced to reroute back onto the highway — delaying response time.

"I want to be really clear with the public today that we will continue to work state and local level enforcement on this," she said. "I have directed the colonel of the State Police to provide resources and work directly with local chiefs and departments in combating this, including holding perpetrators accountable.

"I wanted the public to know that if you see something, say something. Call 9-1-1 if you get word of any meetup. And, finally, to perpetrators: 'No, not gonna happen. If you do it, we will find you and we will hold you accountable to the furthest extent of the law."

Healey said the recent disruptions are not, in any way, an invitation for federal law enforcement or National Guard involvement in what she said was a state and local matter.

"There's no need for that here," she said. "Here in Massachusetts, local and state law enforcement work really closely and well together. What we're seeing in Illinois, and Oregon, and California, this is a lot of political theater on the part of President (Donald) Trump."

A police car was destroyed when a crowd of more than 100 people who had taken over a Boston intersection attacked law enforcement vehicles early Sunday morning in an incident that ended with two Rhode Island teens facing charges, authorities said.

Officers responded around 2:15 a.m. Sunday to Massachusetts Avenue and Tremont Street, where the crowd started throwing fireworks, cones, poles and other items at police cars, according to authorities. One cruiser was repeatedly hit with fireworks, which set it ablaze, and crowd members jumped on its hood, police said.

Several vehicles had been used to block the intersection, preventing traffic flow, but more police were dispatched and the crowd was dispersed using "department-issued equipment," according to the Boston Police Department. Firefighters extinguished the burning cruiser, police said.

Healey said on Wednesday that similar disruptions and destruction had happened in Fall River and Brockton this past weekend.

"I hope it goes away," Healey said. "I hope we see no more of this.

"That's my message today: 'No more. No more.'"

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Patch Editor Anna Schier contributed to this report.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)