187 arrested at street racing site

Police arrested 187 people gathered at an illegal street racing site in an industrial area near Ontario International Airport early Sunday, authorities said.

Among those arrested were two drivers and a “flagger,” who signals the start of the race, police said. They were booked on misdemeanor charges, given citations and released, said Sgt. David McBride of the Ontario Police Department.

Authorities also picked up 184 spectators who were lining the streets to watch the race. They were given citations for watching the illegal activity. Of the 184, 47 were juveniles who also were cited for violation of the city’s 10 p.m. curfew.

More than 100 officers from 12 agencies, including the Ontario Police Department, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, the Riverside Police Department and the California Highway Patrol were involved in the arrests, which took place shortly before 1 a.m. on Airport Drive west of Etiwanda Avenue. The officers were part of a task force targeting street racing in different cities, McBride said.

The two drivers and flagger were identified as Andrew Douglas Verdugo, 19, of Fontana, Miguel Angel Sanchez, 26, of San Bernardino, and Ivan Edgar Aguayo, 23, of Rancho Cucamonga. All three face the same misdemeanor charges of illegal speed contest, but McBride said he did not immediately know which two were racing.

-- Victoria Kim