Warrant Issued for Man Accused of Organizing “Street Takeover” in Austin
Issuance of Arrest Warrant
In a new development, an arrest warrant has been issued for a man, Jacobi Patrick Erickson, suspected of organizing a street takeover in Austin in July of the previous year. According to court documents, Erickson, 20, is facing a state jail felony charge for participation in organized criminal activity.
Taking Over Streets in Austin
The street takeover incident under scrutiny involved multiple vehicles disrupting the flow of traffic at a prime city intersection, Barton Springs Road, and South Lamar Boulevard. Erickson is accused of using his Instagram account to plan this highly disruptive event, with the Texas DPS special agent claiming Erickson used his social media presence to instruct participants to block traffic intentionally.
The Evidence against Erickson
Captured in the act, Erickson live-streamed the event on his Instagram handle. He documented his 2020 Dodge Challenger and other vehicles performing stunts while obstructing traffic, bolstering the evidence against him. Audio snippets from the video further implicate him, as he can be heard clearly instructing others to block intersections and prevent police intervention.
Nevertheless, Austin’s local law enforcement managed to apprehend Erickson at the scene. Initially arrested for misdemeanor reckless driving, Erickson now faces a much more severe charge, a state jail felony for engaging in organized criminal activity.
The Alarming Trend: Street Takeover in Austin
This incident is not an isolated one, but rather part of a disturbing pattern of street takeovers in the city of Austin. Earlier this year, police charged 24 individuals for their involvement in street racing, exposing the alarming trend.