Kennebunkport is the latest York County town to be hit by what officers are calling “late-night street takeovers.”

The takeovers are late-night meet ups at intersections where huge crowds watch as drivers do doughnuts, set off fireworks, and more.

Recently, street takeovers have been occurring in towns across Maine, including Scarborough, Biddeford, and Lyman.

“It’s certainly a coordinated effort on the group’s part,” Kennebunkport Police Chief Chris Simeoni said.

Early this month, Kennebunkport experienced its first street takeover, where about 100 people wearing masks blocked a lone police officer’s patrol car so she could not leave the scene.

Officer Haley Maguire was dispatched to a report of several vehicles making noise at the Dyke Road intersection.

As she approached the scene, participants began to point lasers inside the cruiser and blocked the officer in. One person tried to take the license plate off of the cruiser, while another reportedly pointed out that Maguire “was alone” and they “could take her.”

“As you can imagine, it’s overwhelming for an officer,” Simeoni said.

A couple of local groups are involved in street takeovers, Simeoni said, but the one most likely for the takeover on Dyke Road is known as 207 Slowboyz.

According to the group’s Instagram page, they are “a bunch of kids” who enjoy the performance of cars and drifting.

But these stunts could be putting people in danger, Chief Simeoni said, and the town plans to charge every person involved that they can.

“We’ve identified at least several of the people that were involved in our town, and we’ll be following up with them,” Simeoni said.

Charges could include obstructing a public way, driving to endanger, obstructing government administration, and a laundry list of traffic violations.

At the Kennebunkport Board of Selectmen meeting on Sept. 12, Simeoni said he wants the public to be aware of how quickly incidents like street takeovers can escalate.

“Kudos to the officer, she handled herself very well,” board member Marybeth Gilbert said. “That was very scary to watch.”

Anyone who suspects a street takeover to be taking place is encouraged to contact their local police department.