Instagram handle on car helps Louisville police seize car with explosives, make street racing arrest

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A notorious street racer is now behind bars and his car is sitting in the impound lot.

Louisville Metro Police arrested 22-year-old Quience Waddell on Wednesday.

Investigators said they found an AR pistol, a handgun, illegal ammo, explosives, armor piercing ammunition, drug paraphernalia, facemasks and high-capacity magazines in a black Dodge Charger.

Quience Waddell.jpg — Quience Waddell. (Source: Metro Corrections)

"One of the highlights of this was there was no police chase," LMPD Traffic Unit Commander Lt. Craig Browning said. "There was no violence. There was no fighting."

Waddell was caught on video at Shawnee Park doing donuts in his car. He was also caught racing in Cox Park.

According to court records, he wasn't acting alone. His passengers were hanging out the window as the car sped around the parking lot.

Louisville Metro Police said Waddell was also active in Ohio street takeovers.

On Jan. 4., Cincinnati Police contacted LMPD about two street takeovers by a Louisville street racing club. Cameras there captured one primary instigator -- Waddell.

Cincinnati Police believe Waddell was driving when cameras caught a passenger in his car waving a gun with what appears to be a high capacity magazine.

Another picture shows a gun being fired from the driver's side window. Police connected Waddell to another street takeover event in Louisville.

When police tried to pull him over on Jan. 5, they said he took off speeding. LMPD let him run and found his car three days later.

Street racing arrest 3.jpg — This image shows what was found inside the car after it was seized and a search warrant was obtained. (LMPD photo)

Police had the license plate from the video but it was his Instagram handle on the rear of his car that led police right to him.

"The ordinance that was put forward to pass by Metro Council and the Louisville Metro leadership allows us after the fact to go and seize the vehicle," Browning said.

Street racing has been a recurring problem here in Louisville and city leaders passed a new ordinance in 2022 to crack down on the crime.

If you're caught, regardless of who is driving, the car's registered owner can face up to $2,000 in fines and the car can be seized and impounded.

Police have impounded at least 55 cars so far.

"We're wanting to put out the image, yeah, this is America. It's car culture. You like your car? Enjoy your car. Do it responsibly, alright? When you are putting community members at risk, denying services, and even putting yourself at risk, that's when the issue comes in and that's when we are going to address it," Browning said.

After the latest bust, it's likely Waddell will also probably face charges in Cincinnati.

Waddell's car will be impounded for at least the next six months. On Friday morning, it sat covered in snow.

He is due in court for a hearing on Jan. 26.

Related Stories: