A South Carolina street takeover investigation ended with three people under arrest and deputies recovering a handgun fitted with an automatic switch. The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office says the arrests were connected to an illegal takeover event on Storage Road in Hollywood.
ABC 4 News identified the three men as Zamir Jenkins, Jahntavious Rhett, and Jaylen Whitfield, all 20. Deputies made the arrests Sunday as part of what Sheriff Carl Ritchie described as an ongoing crackdown on illegal street takeover activity across Charleston County.
The charges include violations of South Carolina’s street takeover law, resisting arrest, possession of a machine gun, and receiving stolen goods involving a Glock .40-caliber pistol.
The sheriff’s office also impounded a 2017 Dodge Charger during the operation. Ritchie said the department intends to continue taking “aggressive action” against street takeovers, calling the events a serious threat to public safety.
Deputies Recover Glock With Automatic Switch
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ABC 4 reported that Jenkins was charged with resisting arrest and violating the state’s street takeover law. Rhett was charged with unlawfully storing, keeping, or possessing a machine gun or sawed-off shotgun along with a street takeover violation.
Whitfield was charged with possession of stolen goods connected to a stolen Glock .40-caliber pistol. Separately, the sheriff’s office says deputies recovered a Glock handgun equipped with an automatic switch, a device capable of converting a semiautomatic firearm to fully automatic fire.
South Carolina passed the Roadway Protection and Safety Act in May 2026. The law makes participating in, organizing, or aiding a street takeover a criminal offense.
Ritchie said his office has been clear from the beginning that illegal street takeovers will not be tolerated in Charleston County. He also thanked residents who have supported law enforcement efforts and encouraged the public to continue cooperating as deputies pursue similar cases.
Street racing and takeover events put participants, spectators, and uninvolved motorists at risk. Drivers who want to test a vehicle’s performance have legal options at tracks and other controlled venues.
Commenters Quickly Turn Arrest Photos Into the Main Attraction
A large portion of the reaction had less to do with the street takeover itself and more to do with photos of the suspects released by the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office. One commenter joked that “somebody needs to take over their barbershop,” while another claimed The Simpsons must have already made an episode about the trio.
Others leaned into sarcasm over the arrests, with reactions including “Shocking…. No, I’m kidding” and “color me shocked.” Another person jokingly asked whether the middle suspect had been tased, though the information released by authorities did not say that happened.
The thread also drew criticism over racially charged remarks appearing beneath the story. One commenter pushed back directly, arguing that “crime has no preference or race” and calling on others to stop judging people based on their appearance rather than the accusations actually described by authorities.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.