Long Island street takeover erupts as drivers block road, perform donuts, burnouts: police
Fifteen people were arrested, and seven vehicles were impounded after police descended on an alleged street takeover that brought reckless driving, burnouts and donuts to a Long Island roadway early Saturday, authorities said.
The Suffolk County Police Department said its Street Takeover Task Force got wind of the planned gathering through intelligence gathering and social media monitoring ahead of Friday night, Aug. 14.
Investigators learned the group was preparing to stage a takeover somewhere in Suffolk County, an area covering roughly 1,000 square miles across the eastern two-thirds of Long Island.
Police tracked the group as it moved between several locations throughout the night, authorities said.
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Officers first broke up attempted gatherings near Commack Road and Sunrise Highway in Islip before disrupting another near Route 112 and Main Street in Patchogue.
Police finally intercepted the crowd around 12:50 a.m. Saturday near Woodside Avenue and Sawgrass Drive in Medford, where authorities said numerous vehicles had effectively shut down the roadway.
"Numerous vehicles effectively closed down the roadway on Sawgrass Drive by driving recklessly, performing stunts in the roadway, and doing donuts and burnouts," police said.
Members of the Street Takeover Task Force responded to the scene, arresting 15 people, impounding seven vehicles and handing out multiple traffic tickets, according to the department.
Those arrested came from communities across Long Island and New York City, police said.
Fourteen of the 15 suspects were charged with both participating in an unlawful speed contest and spectating an unlawful speed contest.
The crackdown comes just weeks after another massive street takeover rocked Suffolk County.
In that incident, police said at least 200 ATVs, dirt bikes and motorcycles flooded roads in Hauppauge and Brentwood, prompting another major law-enforcement response.
Three people were arrested, and 10 vehicles were impounded during that operation, according to Suffolk County Police.
The Suffolk County Police Department could not immediately be reached by Fox News Digital for comment.