Langley RCMP Use Force to Disperse Illegal Street Racing Crowd

LANGLEY, B.C. — Police in Langley, British Columbia, used pepper spray and a Taser to disperse a crowd of approximately 200 young people gathered for an illegal street racing event Friday night. The incident occurred on Gloucester Way, where officers responded to reports of illegal racing and vehicle stunting.

According to Langley RCMP, an officer arrived at the scene around 11 p.m. and began issuing traffic violation tickets and towing a vehicle. The situation escalated when the crowd became unruly, and a 16-year-old male allegedly attempted to obstruct the officer. Police say the teen rushed at officers, prompting the use of a Taser.

As backup arrived, a group of young people reportedly tried to interfere with the arrest, leading officers to deploy pepper spray to disperse the crowd. During the chaos, the suspect was freed from a police vehicle but was later apprehended with the help of a police dog. The teen now faces multiple charges, including assaulting an officer.

Langley Mayor Eric Woodward condemned the incident, calling it “very unfortunate” and emphasizing the dangers posed by street racing. “No RCMP officer should be interfered with or obstructed in this manner,” Woodward said in a statement. He noted that the township has implemented traffic calming measures in the Gloucester Industrial Estates area to address the ongoing issue.

Superintendent Harm Dosange of the Langley RCMP described the altercation as “deeply troubling” and announced plans to increase patrols and traffic enforcement in the area. “Street racers put the public and police at significant risk,” Dosange said in a statement Saturday.

Investigators are reviewing video footage of the incident, and additional arrests may follow. Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact Langley RCMP at 604-532-3252.