Suffolk County police arrested 15 people and impounded seven vehicles early Saturday after officers tracked a street takeover group through several locations before intercepting it in Medford.
Police said the Street Takeover Task Force learned through intelligence gathering and social media monitoring that a takeover was planned somewhere in Suffolk County on Friday night, Aug. 14.
The task force tracked the group as it moved through several locations, according to police.
Officers said they deterred takeovers at Commack Road and Sunrise Highway in Islip and at Route 112 and Main Street in Patchogue before the group reached Woodside Avenue and Sawgrass Drive in Medford.
At about 12:50 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, numerous vehicles effectively closed Sawgrass Drive as drivers allegedly drove recklessly, performed stunts, did donuts and conducted burnouts in the roadway, police said.
Members of the task force responded and arrested 15 people. Seven vehicles were impounded, and police also issued multiple traffic tickets for various infractions.
Police identified those arrested as:
- Zachaly Torresduran, 20, of New York, N.Y.
- Jose Mendozagua, 19, of Westbury
- Amanda Tucker, 18, of North Babylon
- Frank Spingola, 21, of Deer Park
- Ahad Hotaki, 19, of Hicksville
- Marvin Chavez, 18, of Hicksville
- Djurabe Edmond, 18, of Westbury
- Joseph Wheeler, 23, of East Islip
- Marcello Martinez, 21, of North Babylon
- Johnathan Edouard, 22, of Roosevelt
- Borys Lozanosanchez, 20, of New York, N.Y.
- Muzamil Hotaki, 20, of Flushing
- Alexander Lopes, 18, of Hicksville
- Declan Tymon, 18, of Lynbrook
- Jeremy Geevarghese, 22, of North Bellmore
Police said all but Geevarghese were charged with participation in an unlawful speed contest and spectating an unlawful speed contest. Geevarghese was charged only with participation in an unlawful speed contest.
Vehicles belonging to Martinez, Edouard, Lozanosanchez, Muzamil Hotaki, Lopes, Tymon and Geevarghese were impounded, according to police.
The Suffolk County Police Department issued a correction Sunday stating Tucker is 18. Her age had incorrectly been listed as 10 in the original release.
All 15 are scheduled to appear at First District Court in Central Islip at a later date.
The charges are accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Photos: SCPD
