An Austin 'car club' operation resulted in 22 arrests | Flickr
An Austin 'car club' operation resulted in 22 arrests | Flickr
Shehan Chandrasoma, son of Austin entrepreneur and philanthropist Dilum Chandrasoma, was arrested on a misdemeanor reckless driving charge in an Austin police crackdown of a “car club” operation, KVUE reported.
Shehan Chandrasoma, 17, was one of 22 people arrested by Austin police at a parking lot off North Interstate 35 in northeast Austin near the AMC theater on Sept. 12, KVUE said.
There has been significant "dangerous and criminal activity" this summer in the parking lot, the police department said in a news release.
“These activities are occurring in conjunction with car-club gatherings,” the news release said. “A quick online search yields hours of Snapchat, YouTube, and Facebook footage of the unlawful behavior taking place at these events. Most alarming is the presence of children and their close proximity to cars performing burnouts, the prevalence of illegal guns and drugs, the ongoing damage to private property the fear these activities are creating for area residents and business owners.”
This is the second arrest for the prominent family.
Dilum Chandrasoma, former president of the Mitte Foundation, was arrested July 21, 2019, and charged with assaulting his son and wife.
When Shehan confronted Chandrasoma about talking to other women on his mobile phone, the father – described as “heavily intoxicated” – allegedly began hitting the son, according to the police report of the incident. His wife allegedly stepped in between the father and son and fell to the floor. Dillum Chandrasoma then began “hitting her on the side of the head,” the report said.
When his wife stood up, Chandrasoma allegedly pushed her back to the floor then went into the bedroom and broke off “a large baseball-sized post from their bed,” but did not strike his wife with it, the report said.
Chandrasoma, now 55, was arrested and taken to the Travis County jail and charged with assault. His wife refused to file an emergency protective order, the police report said.
Chandrasoma purchased Hudson’s Hill Country restaurant in 2018, the Austin American-Statesman reported.
The Mitte Foundation offers scholarships to high school graduates attending a two- or four-year Texas college or university, according to its website. It also offers grants for community improvement projects.
The foundation is currently locked in a legal battle with real estate partnerships over conspiracy allegations relating to assets.
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