Battle Creek has filed its first civil forfeiture suit under an updated public nuisance ordinance to seize a 2024 Ford Mustang after the driver allegedly performed donuts just feet from active gas pumps at a Meijer. The driver, Jaylone Porter, reportedly admitted he "just woke up and felt like spinning 'em" to create social‑media content and said he planned to keep looking for locations to repeat the stunt. Citing Chapter 652, the city seeks forfeiture of the vehicle and released dashcam footage as part of a safety campaign to deter dangerous driving near fuel stations.
Battle Creek Seeks To Seize 2024 Mustang After Gas‑Station Burnout — City's First Civil Forfeiture Under New Nuisance Law
Image Credit: City of Battle Creek / Facebook.
A brand‑new 2024 Ford Mustang that performed donuts just feet from active fuel pumps is at the center of Battle Creek’s first civil forfeiture suit under an updated public nuisance ordinance. City officials say the vehicle was driven into the Meijer parking lot on West Columbia Avenue on a Sunday morning in June, where the driver spun the car’s tires for social‑media attention.
Police identified the driver as Jaylone Porter. A Battle Creek patrol officer witnessed the stunt in person, and the department later released dashcam footage as part of a broader public‑safety campaign.
The episode drew sharper scrutiny after Porter reportedly told officers he "just woke up and felt like spinning 'em" and that he wanted content for social media. According to local reports, Porter even described the arrest as a way to boost his views and said he planned to find another location to repeat the behavior rather than stop doing it.
"I just woke up and felt like spinning 'em," Porter allegedly told officers.
Battle Creek Police Chief Shannon Bagley said Porter’s comments made clear he understood why officers intervened, stressing that accountability matters when someone focuses on avoiding arrest instead of avoiding dangerous conduct. City Attorney Bill Kim noted the irony: because Porter sought attention, the city would help him get it — just not the kind he expected.
Invoking Chapter 652 of the city code, Battle Creek has asked the court to forfeit the Mustang entirely as a public nuisance tied to reckless driving around fuel pumps. Officials emphasize the safety risks: horsepower and fuel vapors are a dangerous mix, and a packed parking lot near gas pumps can turn a stunt into a tragedy.
Why This Matters
Officials say the case is meant as both enforcement and deterrence. By pursuing civil forfeiture, the city aims to send a clear message: enjoy performance cars responsibly, and don’t turn public spaces — especially gas stations — into makeshift stunt sets that endanger others.
Battle Creek has made the dashcam footage public to reinforce that message and to encourage safer choices by drivers who might be tempted to recreate similar stunts for online attention.
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