MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – A street takeover on Milwaukee’s south side led to multiple arrests and citations on Sunday, June 7.

Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman CBS 58

Milwaukee police say they responded to the area near 12th and Mitchell just before 6 p.m. Officers towed five vehicles, issued nine citations and arrested one individual.

“We will continue to respond,” Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said in a one-on-one interview with CBS 58 on Monday. “If we arrest you once, we will arrest you again. If you want to go back out there, if we give you a citation once, we will give you a citation again. We will not stop until these behaviors are stopped themselves.”

CBS 58 crews on scene heard cars revving their engines and people dancing in the street to loud music. Our team also saw cars doing donuts in the street and multiple fights developed throughout the course of the evening.

12th and Mitchell street takeover June 7 CBS 58

12th and Mitchell street takeover June 7 CBS 58

Many people participating in the street takeover were waving the Puerto Rican flag or had it draped around their bodies. Fiesta Puerto Rico at Humboldt Park had taken place on Sunday and CBS 58 spoke to people who said the street takeover was a continued celebration of their culture.

12th and Mitchell street takeover June 7 CBS 58

“This is about remembering Puerto Rico. They are doing this every year,” one teenager at the street takeover told CBS 58. “Some people may not like it, but if they don’t want to celebrate it, just don’t celebrate it,” another teenager said.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said he attended Fiesta Puerto Rico on Sunday. He said the festival itself was a celebration of culture, while the street takeover that took place two miles away after the festival was “unacceptable.”

“[The festival] was a wonderful time. It was a beautiful display of Puerto Rican diversity and pride in Milwaukee,” Johnson said. “What happened afterward was completely different and was also completely unacceptable.”

City leaders are continually meeting to try to address street takeovers. On Monday, June 8. Milwaukee’ Common Council’s Steering and Rules committee met in a closed session to discuss street takeovers. This was part of an overall discussion addressing crime in the city.

”I think some people think these are fun things to do, but really, they’re dangerous things” Johnson said “When you are exploding fireworks, when you’re driving in a way that is not legal, in a way that might hurt somebody, or yourself, that’s a problem.”

MPD tells us the department is in the process of reviewing if additional arrests/citations were conducted by the district officers that were also present.

12th and Mitchell street takeover June 7 CBS 58