9 arrested, vehicles seized at illegal street racing event in East Farmingdale, police say
Suffolk County Police said nine people were arrested in an illegal street race event Friday night in East Farmingdale. Credit: SCPD
Suffolk County police seized 12 vehicles and arrested nine people after shutting down an illegal street race event in East Farmingdale Friday night, the department announced Saturday.
The event on Central Avenue began at around 11:40 p.m. Friday and was stopped by the department's Street Takeover Task Force with assistance from officers in the First Precinct.
Police issued 46 tickets and the drivers arrested are scheduled to appear at First District Court in Central Islip at a later date.
Police did not immediately release the identities of those arrested. A spokesperson said additional information would be released later Saturday.
The vehicles seized — including at least one BMW based on photos police provided — will remain impounded as evidence and could be subject to forfeiture, police said.
Officials in November 2024 announced the creation of the task force, which includes Suffolk County district attorney investigators and sheriff's deputies, to crack down on what law enforcement officials described as a rise of dangerous events. Suffolk lawmakers also passed legislation in late 2024 to allow police to charge organizers and active spectators at street races and takeovers. It wasn't immediately clear if any of the arrests or summonses issued were related to that new law.
The creation of the task force came after police arrested two men who had participated in a street takeover in Islip several days earlier that left a police officer injured, Newsday previously reported.
Joe Werkmeister joined Newsday in 2022 and covers Suffolk County government and politics. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and previously worked as the editor of two North Fork community newspapers.
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