LONG ISLAND, N.Y. (1010 WINS) — Police in both Suffolk and Nassau counties shut down “street takeovers” on Saturday night that blocked off Long Island roads and involved reckless driving.
The Suffolk County Police Street Takeover Task Force shut down what officials called “an attempted street takeover” in the parking lot of the Ronkonkoma Long Island Rail Road station at about 10:15 p.m.
Officers with the Street Takeover Task Force and cops from all seven precincts descended on the parking lot, blocking all exits. Two pick-up trucks were doing donuts as other vehicles and onlookers watched, police said.
One of the drivers, 19-year-old Michael Watson, had his 2002 Dodge Ram impounded and was cited for performing a side show, engaging in stunt behavior and was issued three other traffic tickets.
The other driver, 24-year-old Jason Merino, was arrested and charged with first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation under Angelica’s Law. Police said that the Medford man was driving with 35 suspensions on nine dates, and authorities impounded his 2006 Honda sedan.
Merino will be arraigned in Central Islip at a later date.
Not even an hour before the Suffolk County bust, Nassau County Police broke up a “large-scale illegal vehicle rally and possible street takeover” on Stewart Avenue in Uniondale.
Officers on routine patrol happened across the disturbance at 9:37 p.m., and the department’s Bureau of Special Operations, Aviation Unit, Criminal Intelligence Rapid Response Team and Emergency Service Unit all responded.
Police issued 32 summonses, two vehicles were impounded and one man, 25-year-old Daniel Tiburcio, was arrested.
Tiburcio is charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument and other vehicle and traffic violations, police said.
He is expected to be arraigned in Hempstead on Sunday.
The street takeovers come two weeks after Suffolk County Police responded to reports of vehicles blocking traffic in Islip, which led a group of street racers to flee and cause multiple collisions.