SAN ANTONIO — Hours after the San Antonio Police Department. announced the arrests of 24 people in a street racing bust on Tuesday, a judge rejected more than half of the cases.
SAPD officials said the group blocked intersections, threw rocks and bottles at police officers, and damaged property overnight. Authorities said they made the arrests following an incident that unfolded around midnight Tuesday in a parking lot in the 600 block of West Theo Avenue, south of downtown.
Police reportedly filed 33 charges and towed 12 vehicles.
The group was taken to the city's magistrate office on Frio Road, where one judge accepted the cases and set bonds for the individuals, sources told KENS 5. Later, however, they were transported to the County's Justice Intake and Assessment Annex, where another judge rejected all but five of the cases.
A county official explained that the cases were dismissed after the county magistrate judge reviewed reports written by the officers. The county official said the reports lacked information to support the elements of the offenses charged, noting the judge was unable to consult with the officers about the charges.
A spokesman for the agency said Tuesday evening the department was reviewing the reports in question and intended on refiling the cases.
The arrests came as part of the agency's crack down on illegal drag racing. Over the last two weeks, the agency has employed many resources to combat street racing.
On Saturday, the San Antonio Fire Department posted a photo of a wrecked car on Facebook with the caption:
"Street racing and street takeovers can be deadly. Please do NOT intentionally block the highway or roads! Last Sunday, approximately 30 vehicles blocked an intersection. This prevented an SAFD vehicle from heading to a call. Just imagine if it was YOUR loved one that needed our help. You can always report this illegal activity to 210-225-TIPS (8477)."
Woody Woodward, a spokesman for the fire department said, “you really have to think of the first responders. Think if it’s your family, your mom, your dad, your child and we need to get that ambulance to the hospital and we can’t because the intersection’s blocked."