PHILADELPHIA, PA — Police have arrested two men in connection with a series of street racing and reckless driving incidents that occurred across the city last month. Joseph Cavanaugh, 21, of Levittown, and James Hare, 20, of Philadelphia, were taken into custody on Friday, October 25, for their alleged roles in the events that began on the night of September 21 and continued into the early hours of September 22.
Cavanaugh was arrested on the Unit block of Coral Lane in Levittown and faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault, criminal conspiracy, rioting, reckless endangerment, and fleeing a police officer. Hare was apprehended on the 11700 block of Bustleton Avenue in Philadelphia and is charged with similar offenses, including criminal conspiracy, causing a catastrophe, rioting, and reckless driving.
Authorities say the incidents involved large gatherings of vehicles engaging in illegal activities such as drifting, drag racing, and setting off fireworks. The gatherings spanned several locations, attracting crowds of up to 200 vehicles. In one instance at 9:30 p.m. on September 21, officers responded to a gathering of around 50 vehicles on Bustleton Avenue, where multiple citations were issued, and one driver attempted to flee, colliding with a civilian vehicle.
Police detailed other events, including reports of reckless driving and vandalism at major intersections such as 20th Street and Pattison Avenue. At midnight, officers observed a vehicle attempting to ram a police car on Columbus Boulevard, leading to a pursuit and subsequent collision. The vehicle’s occupants fled the scene.
The Philadelphia Police Department stated that investigations into these incidents are ongoing, and additional arrests may follow. Mugshots of the two suspects have not been made available.