Suffolk County Police arrested four men from Connecticut and impounded a truck, trailer and race car after breaking up an illegal drag race on Long Island early on Sunday morning.
The department's Street Takeover Task Force responded to a 911 call reporting a large gathering of vehicles on Express Drive North, west of Sills Road in Yaphank, at about 1:10am. When officers arrived, they saw vehicles racing before the crowd began to disperse, according to police.
Officers later stopped a truck that was towing a trailer carrying a race car. Four men were arrested at the scene. Christian Vargas Hernandez, 28, was charged with reckless driving, third-degree unlawful fleeing of a police officer in a motor vehicle, and unlawful speed contests, sideshows and races. John Maldonado, 33, Lawrence Torres, 30, and Efrain Rivera, 35, were each charged with the latter offence. All four are from Meriden, Connecticut.
Footage released by police shows people positioning cars, tyre smoke, backfires and vehicles accelerating down the service road. Two modified Honda Civics with wide front tyres performed burnouts, with one emitting flames from a turbo outlet ducted through the hood, before the pair accelerated away at high speed.
All four men received appearance tickets and will be arraigned at a later date. The truck, trailer and race car remain impounded.
Suffolk County's street takeover law is broader than its name suggests. Participation includes organising or promoting an event, acting as a starter, positioning a vehicle, directing people, and even riding in a vehicle to help facilitate the gathering. Knowingly watching from within 200 feet is separately prohibited. Police did not specify what they believe the other three men did beyond charging them under that law.
The arrests highlight the growing use of dedicated task forces to tackle illegal street racing and takeover events, which have become a persistent problem in parts of New York and other US states. Such gatherings often draw large crowds and can block roads, creating risks for participants and the public.
The seizure of the truck, trailer and race car represents a significant financial penalty for those involved, as impounded vehicles can be held for extended periods and may be subject to forfeiture. The case will now proceed through the courts, where the four men will have the opportunity to respond to the charges.