http://cbs13.com/topstories/local_story_091005046.html

Mar 31, 2006 9:47 pm US/Pacific

Wild Party Uncontested By Police Raises Questions

Serene Branson

(CBS 13) SACRAMENTO

Parking lot parties are getting out and we have the

proof. Our cameras caught reckless drivers nearly causing crashes on a

popular Sacramento street and it was all unchecked by police.

We heard it all going down on our police scanners for weeks and checked it

out last night. We put a CBS 13 photographer on the scene what we found was

shocking.

The parking lot party along Stockton Boulevard started small. The time:

shortly before midnight Thursday. In the next 30 minutes there was drinking

and stripping, but still, no sign of police.

Then, car after car spins out on busy Stockton Boulevard, uncontested by

police, who are still nowhere to be found.

First we took the tape of the party to nearby business owners who were

shocked at what they saw.

"Oh my God. It's very unbelievable really," said Yolanda Hernandez,

businesswoman. It's a typical reaction from people who saw our tape for the

first time.

"They're not young people; they're old enough to know what they're doing,"

said Patrie Ngoan, Vi Florist and Gift Center. "I can't believe this is

happening outside our store and no one is stopping them or anything."

The tape was a shocker for the Stockton Boulevard Partnership a group that

has actively been working to revitalize the area.

"I'm surprised because we have tried so hard to move this sort of thing off

Stockton Boulevard," said Richard Greene, Stockton Boulevard Partnership.

With the amount of pressure that police have been claiming to put on street

racing and this type of behavior, we decided to show them the tape to see

what they had to say.

After watching the tape, even the Sacramento Police Department was surprised

to see this video our cameras captured of the impromptu party in the

streets.

"We've put a lot of resources to stopping this activity but it's difficult

it's occurring all over the city," said Sgt. Terrell Marshall, Sacramento

Police Department.

So where were those resources last night?

Sgt. Marshall said the police department received three calls. The first

call was at 12:40 a.m. for a loud stereo. The second call was at 1:42 a.m.;

it was a reckless driving and speeding call. At 2:01 a.m. another call came

in for loud music. Sgt. Marshall said officers were in route at 1:09 a.m.

but were diverted to calls of a stolen vehicle, then a burglary, assault

with a deadly weapon and a domestic violence call. He said that by the time

officers arrived at 2:22 a.m. the scene was clear.

"We can't be everywhere at once," said Sgt. Marshall.

Police have formed a task force to combat street racing but that force was

no where to be seen last night. Those other calls police received took

priority.

Sgt. Marshall said similar problems on Arden Way at Howe Avenue have been

broken up by officers, who targeted the area, but the problem only moves to

a different location and it appears Stockton Boulevard may be the new spot.

"There's no doubt this is a disturbing video," said Sgt. Marshall. "There's

no doubt we'll have to reassess our strategies and probably focus on that

area a little more."