Victim assaulted in Memorial Park by members of car group, after filming drivers being reckless
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) is searching for members of a car-meetup at Memorial Park, after they say they assaulted a bystander over the weekend for filming them driving erratically.
CSPD said that on Sunday, May 25, a group of car enthusiasts gathered in Memorial Park where they were driving recklessly both in the parking lot and roadways, according to witnesses.
They say as a result, a person who was not involved with the group started to record the drivers, which is believed to have upset the group, prompting members to approach that person and then assault them.
Other people in the park came to help the victim, and once police arrived the car group scattered from the area. The victim was treated at an area hospital for non-life threatening injuries, and there have been no suspects identified at this time.
"These car groups continue to gather and engage in dangerous driving behaviors, interfering with the enjoyment of parks and other venues by others," CSPD said.
A spokesperson for CSPD tells KRDO13 that the department is planning to increase patrols in Memorial Park in light of this incident.
Nearby homeowners say the car meetups have been happening every weekend for the last two years or so, leaving the parking lots rife with skid marks, along with alcohol containers and trash.
"You hear screeching tires and all this noise, the house smells like burnt rubber. There's smoke everywhere. It's just gross." stated Sara Woodraska, who lives with her family just across Pikes Peak Avenue, and has a clear look at the parking lots.
KRDO13 spoke with multiple homeowners on Monday like Woodraska, who say the idea that someone was assaulted over simply trying to hold the group accountable, is both shocking and goes way too far.
"That's scary because you don't want that kind of violence going on, especially across the street from your house when you've got kids." added Woodraska. "What if you're outside and you're taking a picture of your kid and they think you're doing something else and they come up and you're the next one, you know? You don't want that. And it's just another reason not to go to the park." she said
Police are looking for anyone with information regarding this assault, or the car group that holds these meetups, to call Colorado Springs Police.
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