On Saturday night, Atwater PD responded to the Save Mart Shopping Center for a number of excessive noise complaints.
The noise complaints came from a massive car meet usually held in the area.
Atwater PD eventually shutdown the car meet due to burnouts, curfew violations, and drinking in the parking lot, police say.
Atwater PD gave them 30 minutes to disperse. However, a few people were trying to cause panic by making loud noises to appear as gunshots and rocking their cars back and fourth, police say.
There was even a short pursuit. Atwater PD attempted to initiate a traffic stop after a vehicle burnout. The suspect sped from police nearly hitting pedestrians. The pursuit ended near Gertude Avenue and N.Winton Way. The suspect only received a citation. The pursuit was related to the car meet, according to police.
Police acknowledged previous car meets at the Save Mart parking lot have been mellow. However, this particular car meet was just unruly, police say.
Several other local agencies including: Merced PD, Merced CHP, Merced County Sheriff’s Department assisted in the shutdown just after 10:00 p.m.
No injuries were reported.
