CT state police are cracking down on street takeovers. Three people were arrested over the weekend.

The Connecticut State Police have arrested three people allegedly involved in street takeovers on Sunday and Monday.

State police said they have launched the final phase of a months-long investigation into street racing “takeover events” throughout Connecticut.

The joint investigation between Connecticut State Police, local law enforcement agencies and the Federal Bureau of Investigation has targeted the increasing number of illegal street racing events that have resulted in shootings, assaults, motor vehicle crashes, pedestrian injuries and damaged property.

Investigators have started making arrests, charging those they believe are responsible for organizing and promoting the events and seizing their vehicles, state police said.

At about 11:26 p.m. on Sunday, police spotted a white Honda Civic drag racing with what appeared to be a drag chute attached to the back on Route 9 in Berlin, according to state police.

Troopers later reportedly saw the same car being loaded onto a flatbed being pulled by a Ford F-350 pickup truck and pulled the truck over. Officers learned the Honda had been reported stolen out of Danbury, state police said.

Police: Street racing ‘ring leader’ arrested following multiple street takeovers

The driver of the Ford F-350 pickup truck was identified as Flor Hiram Santiago, 43, of Meriden. He was charged with racing, reckless driving, second-degree reckless endangerment, first-degree larceny, failure to renew registration, misuse of plates, theft of plates, driving without insurance, driving with a suspended license and improper parking, according to state police.

Santiago, who was also wanted by police in East Hartford for first-degree larceny, was taken to the Troop H barracks and was being held on a $500,000 bond. He was scheduled to be arraigned in New Britain on Monday.

At about 1:43 a.m. on Monday, investigators spotted two vehicles driving side by side on I-84 West near Exit 39 at speeds of about 120 mph, which police said “put the general public at risk.”

Troopers assigned to Troop H and Troop A pulled the vehicles over in Waterbury. The drivers, 37-year-old Torrellas Hernandez of Waterbury and 20-year-old Hannah Bartolucci of Feeding Hills, Massachusetts, were both arrested and taken to Troop A barracks in Southbury, state police said.

Bartolucci was charged with racing, reckless driving and first-degree reckless endangerment, and Hernandez was charged with racing, reckless driving, first-degree reckless endangerment and improper use of colored lights or high beams, according to state police.

Both were released on $10,000 bonds. Hernandez is scheduled to be arraigned in court in Hartford on June 14, and Bartolucci is scheduled to be arraigned on June 22, state police said.

The vehicles that Hernandez, Bartolucci and Santiago were driving were all seized by police, according to state police.

State police have also launched a “You race it, you lose it” campaign to remind organizers, drivers and spectators of street takeover events of the potential consequences of their involvement in the takeovers, including losing custody of their vehicles.

Law enforcement officers across the state have also made efforts to warn the public about planned street takeovers.

“Based upon the tumultuous behavior exhibited by participants during previous incidents, and in the interest of preserving public safety, the Connecticut State Police are providing members of the public with advance notice for their safety,” state police said in a statement.

Police are advising Connecticut residents to turn around, seek an alternate route and call 911 if they come across a takeover event.