INDIANAPOLIS -- On Sunday, September 15th, 2024, at approximately 2:30 a.m., IMPD officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle near E. Washington Street and Pine Street. As the officer approached the vehicle, they observed several parking lots near the intersection filled with approximately 100-200 vehicles engaged in reckless driving, to include spinning. A large crowd began to form, and the officer requested additional backup to assist.
A group of males began throwing nearby road cones and road signs at the officers’ police vehicles. Both vehicles sustained damage to their hoods and windshields.
At some point during the incident, near the Hardee’s located at 921 East Washington Street, an individual began firing shots in the air near officers who had arrived on the scene. The shooter fled the scene in a vehicle. That vehicle was later located unoccupied and towed.
Additional officers began making verbal announcements using police vehicle speakers, along with fully activated lights and sirens. When additional officers arrived, the large crowd began to disperse.
On September 15, 2024 just before 4:00 a.m., an IMPD East District officer was dispatched to the intersection of Brookville Rd. and Arlington Ave with reports of vehicles obstructing the intersection.
Upon arrival, the officer observed 30-40 vehicles blocking the area.
An Indiana State Police (ISP) Trooper was on-scene with lights and sirens to disperse the crowd. The IMPD officer then observed a black SUV maneuvering over a curb to exit a parking lot, nearly colliding with an ISP Trooper's vehicle. The SUV then led officers on a brief pursuit before stopping in the 300 block of N. Webster.
The driver, identified as David Balleza Jr., was taken into custody and charged with resisting law enforcement with a motor vehicle, criminal recklessness and two counts of reckless driving.
On September 15, 2024, at approximately 10:40 p.m., IMPD officers were dispatched to assist the Indiana State Police (ISP) with reckless drivers in the 3400 block of Lafayette Rd.
When IMPD officers arrived, they observed dozens of vehicles spinning and doing burnouts in a parking lot. IMPD officers also learned that while trying to clear the scene, the ISP Troopers had rocks and bottles thrown at their vehicles. The ISP vehicles sustained damage from the rocks and bottles.
The IMPD Aviation (Drone) Unit and IMPD’s Event Response Group (ERG) were called to the scene to assist. Eventually, the crowd dispersed.
Later that evening, officers were called to the area of Lafayette Rd and Pike Plaza for reports of reckless driving and spinning. As officers tried to disperse the crowd, officers had their vehicles struck by fireworks, fire extinguishers, rocks, and bottles. Officers began to stage for the arrival of additional officers when the crowd began to flee the area.
Officers later located one of the vehicles involved in the spinning that was observed doing donuts and burnouts near pedestrians. Officers were able to stop the vehicle and arrested the driver of the vehicle, Roberto Ramirez, for criminal recklessness.
On September 16, 2024, at approximately 2:51 a.m., officers responded to 7025 English Avenue for a report of reckless vehicles blocking the intersection at the location.
When officers arrived on scene, they observed more than 50 vehicles blocking the intersection and obstructing traffic. Officers activated their lights and sirens on their police vehicles to in effort to open the roadway for traffic flow. While officers were there with their lights and sirens activated, a large crowd began to approach the officers’ vehicles.
As the crowd approached the officers’ vehicle, there were multiples individuals that were holding baseball bats and other items while yelling at the officers. One of the individuals hit the windshield of the officer’s police vehicle with a baseball bat causing damage. Other individuals began throwing bottles of lighter fluid and baseball bats at the police vehicles, causing further damage. As officers started to back away, the individuals continued to follow the officers, while throwing baseball bats and other items at officers’ vehicles causing damage to them.
As the crowd began to retreat to their vehicles, an officer recognized one of the suspects who had damaged a police car get into a vehicle and leave the scene. The officer attempted a traffic stop, but the driver did not to stop for the officer. A vehicle pursuit began and was ended with apprehension of the suspect and driver without further incident.
The suspect was later identified as Serio Melendez. Melendez was placed under arrest for vandalism of city property and attempted aggravated assault of a police officer.
The driver of the fleeing vehicle was later identified as Osmar Salgado. Salgado was placed under arrest for reckless driving and fleeing law enforcement.
On September 16, 2024, at approximately 3:15 a.m., IMPD officers observed a large crowd of approximately 100 people near the intersection of Emerson Ave and English Ave.
Officers observed individuals pour oil and gasoline on the roadway and set it on fire. Around the same time, officers observed individuals in vehicles, doing donuts with the crowd cheering them on.
Officers activated their emergency lights and sirens in effort to get the crowd to disperse.
At that point, about 20 individuals, many who were wearing face masks, began walking towards the officers’ police vehicles. Several of those individuals also were holding baseball bats, sticks, and gas and oil cans.
The individuals then began to launch items, the gas and oil cans, at officers and their vehicles, some of which were on fire. At least one individual began to spray a fire extinguisher in the area, creating a large cloud of smoke and making it difficult for officers to see.
One individual threw a fire extinguisher at an officer’s police vehicle, striking the front hood and windshield, causing significant damage to the police vehicle. The crowd eventually began to disperse and fled the scene.
IMPD will continue to investigate these incidents and is urging anyone with information or footage of the events to come forward to assist in identifying those responsible for the violence. You can call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317.262.8477 or (TIPS).
“The actions we saw this weekend against IMPD officers and Indiana State Troopers is unacceptable. Our officers responded to calls regarding street takeovers and spinning and in doing so, they were met with violence and their vehicles were attacked. Let me be clear—we will not tolerate any behavior that puts officer safety or the safety of our community at risk. We will continue to investigate these incidents thoroughly and hold those responsible accountable for their actions,” said Chief Chris Bailey.
