3 Arrested as Officers Break Up Illegal Drag Race

A popular and illegal form of late-night entertainment skidded to a halt early Sunday when authorities broke up a group of drag racers, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

Nearly 150 people, including participants and spectators, were cited and three arrested at 40th Street West between Avenue G and Avenue H, said Lancaster Sheriff’s Sgt. Craig Peterson. Those arrested included one man on suspicion of receiving stolen property and two others for outstanding traffic warrants.

Authorities also impounded five vehicles from owners for infractions ranging from driving with a suspended license to racing. One car was impounded for possessing a stolen engine.

“It’s common in the area and we’ve had several problems with it,” Peterson said. “One [race] resulted a year ago in the death of a pedestrian.”