TAMPA, Fla. – Those who took part in unlawful street racing on local roads were the focus of “Operation Flex,” which was a joint effort by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the Tampa Police Department.
Their objective was to convey in a clear and unequivocal manner that illegal and risky behavior would not be permitted in the future.
According to Phil Martello, a public information officer with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, “When people are out driving at high speeds, driving recklessly, a lot of the time they are under the influence.” “When people are driving recklessly, it makes it really difficult for our team to keep the community safe. As a result, we were out there in full force trying to be proactive.”
The eight-hour operation that was conducted on Saturday to crack down on street racing resulted in 110 motor stops, 52 warnings, 14 penalties, and eight arrests, three of which involved men.
Drug charges have been brought against both Devon Aro and Tyrone Griffin. After being found in possession of a pistol, deputies say they also detained previously convicted criminal Sydner Baker.
The other people arrested are being charged with participating in street racing.
Lili Trujillo Puckett has personal experience with the repercussions that come along with street racing. Back in 2014, her daughter Valentina, who was only 16 years old, was murdered in an accident involving street racing.
“There’s so much tragedy around the whole subject,” Trujillo Puckett said. “If anything were to happen to you, whether you go behind bars for killing someone or lose your life or end up being handicapped, there’s so much tragedy around the whole subject.”
Because of this, she established the charitable organization known as “Street Racing Kills.” She travels to schools all over the United States to give presentations on the risks associated with street racing, and she also collaborates with the judicial systems in numerous locations to provide offenders with access to a Reckless Driving Intervention Program.
“We have victim speakers, we also have people who are expert drivers, and we also have people that have been to jail for killing someone,” Trujillo Puckett said. “We have all of these different types of people.”
It is a means to stop people from participating, whether they are a driver or a spectator, as well as discourage them from doing so.
The authorities have issued a warning that they will not let up on their crackdown on illegal street racing.
Street racing will not be tolerated in Hillsborough County under any circumstances. Martello remarked, “I believe that ‘Operation Flex’ on Saturday night is evidence of that,” and I agree with him.
