Youth arrested as crowd swarms Langley RCMP at illegal street racing event

Langley RCMP cruisers are shown in this CTV News Vancouver file photo.

A 16-year-old is facing several charges after allegedly assaulting a police officer who attempted to break up a large-scale, illegal street racing event in Langley, B.C.

Just after 11 p.m. Friday, officers were called to an area near Gloucester Way where around 200 young people had gathered to race their cars, the RCMP said in a release issued Saturday.

The swarming crowd became “unruly,” and a 16-year-old boy “obstructed and interfered” with an officer who had begun issuing traffic violation tickets and towing a vehicle, said police.

“Despite multiple instructions to stand down, the 16-year-old rushed at police and they were forced to deploy a conducted energy weapon,” said the statement, adding that several bystanders also interfered with the arrest.

“Officers repeatedly asked them to stand back, however they refused. Officers then deployed pepper spray to disperse them from the area in order to safely arrest the suspect,” the statement said.

Police said the teenager was arrested, but fled after members of the crowd helped him escape from a police car, forcing officers to deploy a police dog to locate him.

A video circulating on social media shows an aggressive altercation between two officers and a youth, before the teenager is pushed to the floor and subsequently arrested.

“What did he do? What did he do?” A girl can be heard repeating, frantically, in the background.

“Not only is this incident extremely concerning from a public safety perspective, but the fact that these youth believed it was OK to obstruct police officers in the lawful execution of their duties, is unacceptable,” said Supt. Harm Dosange, the officer in charge of the Langley RCMP, in the release.

Describing the behaviour as “deeply troubling,” Dosange said the Langley RCMP will be increasing patrols and employing traffic enforcement around the community where the races are taking place.

“Street racers put the public and police at significant risk,” he said.

The 16-year-old is facing several charges, including assaulting a police officer.

Anyone who may have further information about the illegal races that took place Friday night are asked to call the Langley RCMP at 604-532-3252.