ST. LOUIS — St. Louis’ mayor and the police department promised changes would be coming to downtown to cut back on cruising, speeding and dangerous driving.
Over the weekend, police put their plans into action.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department reported officers made several traffic stops in the Downtown and Near North Riverfront neighborhoods as part of their effort to cut back on cruisers.
Police made at least 9 arrests, the department shared on Twitter. Officers had several vehicles towed, including ATVs, a minibike, an SUV and a sedan. During their traffic stops, police also collected several guns.
The St. Louis police department shared photos on Twitter of the weapons and vehicles they got off the streets.
Neighbors told 5 On Your Side they've noticed more police patrolling the area.
"They've been walking up and down the streets. They've been on bikes," Tink Dixon said.
St. Louis Metropolitan Police wouldn't tell 5 On Your Side how many more officers are in the area, citing safety reasons.
Their crackdown comes after another emergency change, installed late last week: new concrete barriers along Washington Avenue. The barriers block off several sections of the road between 11th Street and 15th Street. Some parts are reduced to one lane, others are completely blocked off to vehicle traffic.
One neighbor called the change "amazing."
"I'm able to walk my dog, let my daughter come out here and ride a bike, ride a skateboard. It's becoming more neighborly," Ty Shields said.
Photos: St. Louis police make arrests, tow vehicles suspected in downtown cruising
But crime didn't come to a halt. Early Monday morning, police said two men shot each other outside the Marriott St. Louis Grand hotel and both were taken to the hospital in critical condition.
"It didn't cure it completely, but it definitely made a difference," Mayor Lyda Krewson said. "These are short-term solutions, and we've got to think about this in a short-term way as well as a longer term way in terms of what is right for these streets that are in the downtown area."
She didn't say how long the changes would remain in place, adding that police and the streets department are re-evaluating as they go.
Police listed a breakdown of the incidents they responded to over the weekend. In all, police reported the following during their enforcement in the downtown area over the weekend:
- Felony fleeing with wanted vehicles: 13
- Felony fleeing with an arrest: 4
- Parking tags: 90
- Unlawful use of a weapon arrest: 1
- Felony warrant arrest: 1
- Violation of Missouri controlled substance law: 2
- Tampering arrest: 1
- Operating ATV on a street: 1
- Drinking in public: 1
- Other traffic tickets: 3
- Recovered weapons: 6
- Towed vehicles: 9
- Towed ATVs: 3
- Towed motorcycles: 1
Last Monday, Krewson announced changes would be coming to downtown streets after a teenager girl was killed in a crash involving a speeding car.
“This behavior cannot continue,” Krewson said.
The mayor explained over the last several weekends, drivers were seen cruising, racing, doing wheelies and doughnuts and shooting weapons.
“This kind of racing and dangerous behavior is not acceptable. Not acceptable for the residents who live here. Not acceptable for the businesses that are here. And so, we are going to continue to try to address that by making some more changes,” she said.