A teen is just hours away from facing a judge for allegedly organizing street races in at least two counties.
Now Paul Murphy, a Georgetown man, is speaking out about street races in his neighborhood that put innocent lives at risk.
That concern over street racing is spreading across our area. An 18-year-old teen is spending his weekend in the Kent City Jail, following his arrest in Puyallup on Friday afternoon.
He is suspected of organizing a number of street races in King and Pierce counties.
Still, his arrest has not stopped these street races. Indeed, Murphy came upon one of these street races just last night.
“It’s just scary,” said Murphy. “It’s horrifying to hear you know the squealing of the wheels, the unmuffling of the engine.”
This is what has Murphy and his neighbors upset — the fumes, the noise, the danger of street racing.
“It’s a lack of respect for life, really,” Murphy said.
Scroll down to continue reading
More news from KIRO 7
- Thieves use front loader to break into South Seattle dispensary
- Texas BBQ chain owed employees nearly $900,000
- Man arrested after pedestrian struck and killed in Interbay
- Do you have an investigative story tip? Send us an email at investigate@kiro7.com
He says he had just walked his dog on Saturday when he came upon a street race involving 16-to-22-year-olds.
He called Seattle police, then the King County Sheriff’s Office more than once, but no one responded.
“They could have stopped it for sure,” Murphy said. “They could even just send somebody here and watch it like at nighttime when it happens when it’s really bad.”
Tacoma’s mayor had a similar experience four Sundays ago. Victoria Woodards got trapped by a street race on South Tacoma Way under the Union Street overpass, packed with vehicles and spectators.
“I thought about people dying,” said Mayor Woodards. “I thought about one of those young people being hit or killed in one of those cars.”
Last week, the Tacoma City Council passed a law making it illegal to be a spectator at street races.
Then on Friday afternoon, the teen suspected of organizing street races from Tacoma to at least Federal Way was arrested for investigation of at least 20 charges.
Murphy says the street racers have caused property damage along West Marginal Place South.
He says that besides arresting the suspects, someone needs to set up a place where drivers can legally race or the racing might never stop.
“Nothing’s happened,” said Murphy. “They feel invincible.”
The teen arrested on Friday will make his first court appearance here Monday afternoon. But he may be facing even more charges — three additional charges were tacked on over the weekend.
©2022 Cox Media Group
