By SDCN Staff
San Diego, CA–Law enforcement agencies in San Diego have launched a coordinated crackdown on illegal street racing and sideshow activity, carrying out a joint operation aimed at identifying and stopping those involved in the dangerous events.
On August 8, the San Diego Police Department and California Highway Patrol conducted a joint enforcement operation targeting participants, organizers, and spectators involved in illegal street racing and sideshow takeover activity throughout the San Diego area.
At approximately 12:15 a.m., investigators determined that a group that posts on social media was coordinating a series of sideshow takeovers. Over the next several hours, participants traveled to multiple locations, including:
1. Scripps Ranch Court and Scripps Ranch Boulevard
2. Clairemont Mesa Boulevard and Antigua Boulevard
3. Otay Mesa Road and Ocean View Hills Parkway
4. Tonawanda Drive and Reo Drive
Officers made several arrests, including two individuals involved in promoting, organizing, recruiting for, or participating in illegal street racing and sideshow activity.
Joshua David Ruiz, 18, with a social media following, had come to the attention of investigators through social media posts depicting numerous acts of dangerous driving on San Diego area freeways and surface streets. These activities included participation in sideshow takeovers, speed contests, and an inherently dangerous driving maneuver commonly referred to as “white lining.”
“White lining” generally refers to intentionally driving at a high rate of speed along or near the lane dividing line between vehicles traveling in adjacent lanes, passing through narrow gaps in traffic with little or no margin for error. Placing themselves and the public at risk of a serious or fatal collision.
During an enforcement operation on August 8, officers observed Ruiz driving a rented U-Haul pickup truck and participating in a sideshow at the intersection of Scripps Ranch Court and Scripps Ranch Boulevard. Investigators determined that the activity caused approximately $5,153 worth of damage.
Ruiz was arrested and booked into San Diego County Central Jail on charges of felony vandalism, exhibition of speed, and reckless driving.
Jesus Arias-Ruiz Jr., 27, also with a social media following, was also known to investigators for allegedly promoting and hosting numerous illicit vehicle gatherings throughout San Diego.
When officers attempted to stop Arias-Ruiz, he fled, reaching speeds of more than 100 mph. During the incident, Arias-Ruiz turned off his vehicle’s lights while traveling on Interstate 15 and later surface streets.
For public safety reasons, officers disengaged from the ground pursuit while a San Diego police helicopter continued monitoring the vehicle from the air.
On August 10, members of the San Diego Police Department’s Traffic Special Investigations Unit, with assistance from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, located and arrested Arias-Ruiz. He was booked into San Diego County Central Jail on charges including felony evading, felony vandalism, parole violation, exhibition of speed, and reckless driving.
In addition to these arrests, SDPD and CHP officers issued:
2 DUI arrests
4 misdemeanor citations
4 crime cases
5 hazardous-moving-violation citations
7 equipment-violation citations
2 vehicle impounds
Additional investigations stemming from the operation remain ongoing.
San Diego Police Department and California Highway Patrol say those who choose to participate in this dangerous and illegal behavior will be identified, investigated, and held accountable.
