Austin 'street takeovers': Charge dismissed for suspect accused of organizing event

Charge dismissed for man in Austin street takeovers

The charge has been dismissed against the suspect who was accused of organizing the street takeover in South Austin two years ago.

AUSTIN, Texas - The charge has been dismissed against the suspect who was accused of organizing the street takeover in South Austin two years ago. 

In the arrest papers, street takeovers are defined as reckless behavior involving burnouts, drift driving, doughnuts, and ‘ghosting,’ where drivers climb out of the moving vehicle.

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Street takeovers: APD responds to multiple incidents throughout Austin

Austin police responded to several "street takeover" incidents over a three-and-a-half-hour period Saturday night.

‘Street takeovers’ in Austin

The backstory:

The South Austin street takeover occurred at the intersection of Barton Springs Road and South Lamar Boulevard on July 29, 2023, outside the Barton. 

"They block off the intersections. Almost like, if they had the free will to do it." 

Jacobi Patrick Erickson was suspected of putting the event together and faced a deadly conduct charge for it.

Court records show his Instagram messages leading up to the street takeover, which detailed his plans and the purchase of a Dodge Challenger RT, only four days prior. 

Gov. Abbott signs street takeover bills

Gov. Abbott has signed two bills into law hitting the brakes on street racing and street takeovers across Texas. This comes after a statewide task force was put in place earlier this year to deter the dangerous activity.

Erickson even discussed throwing police off the trail by calling the San Antonio Police Department and reporting the event that was happening there. Erickson also livestreamed the street takeover at 5:35 p.m., according to records. 

The street takeovers got so bad in Austin, at the time, that Governor Greg Abbott got involved. He requested help from Texas DPS and the Austin Police Department. It is one of the reasons why the Austin Violent Crimes Task Force was created. 

"Same thing that happened in February. They were just doing burnouts and stuff, and I mean, vandalizing the street."

APD responds to street takeovers in Austin

Austin police and DPS responded to a series of street takeovers across Austin. One resulted in serious injuries.

The deadly conduct charge for the street takeover has since been dismissed after he entered a guilty plea in another case. 

According to court documents, Erickson was convicted of aggravated assault involving family violence that happened just three months later in October 2023.

Erickson was given two years of deferred adjudication and is required to complete 80 hours of community service.