By Tiffany Williams –
MEDFORD, N.Y. — Suffolk County Police arrested 15 people and impounded seven vehicles after authorities tracked a group across multiple locations and ultimately moved in on an alleged street takeover that shut down a roadway in Medford.
The arrests came early Saturday, Aug. 15, after a police operation that began with intelligence gathering and social media monitoring.
Police said the Street Takeover Task Force learned that a takeover was being planned somewhere in Suffolk County on Friday night, Aug. 14, but the exact location was initially unknown.
Investigators started tracking the group.
Authorities said the Task Force, assisted by multiple Suffolk County Police commands, followed the activity through numerous locations and prevented takeovers from developing at Commack Road and Sunrise Highway in Islip and later at Route 112 and Main Street in Patchogue.
But the group kept moving.
At approximately 12:50 a.m. Saturday, police intercepted the group at Woodside Avenue and Sawgrass Drive in Medford.
Police said numerous vehicles effectively shut down Sawgrass Drive as drivers allegedly operated recklessly, performed stunts in the roadway and conducted donuts and burnouts.
Members of the Street Takeover Task Force moved in.
Fifteen people were arrested.
Seven vehicles were impounded.
Police also issued multiple traffic tickets for various infractions.
Those arrested were identified as Zachaly Torresduran, 20, of New York; Jose Mendozagua, 19, of Westbury; Amanda Tucker, 10, 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; Muzamil Hotaki, 20, of Flushing; Alexander Lopes, 18, of Hicksville; Declan Tymon, 18, of Lynbrook; and Jeremy Geevarghese, 22, of North Bellmore.
Police said Martinez, Edouard, Lozanosanchez, Hotaki, Lopes, Tymon and Geevarghese had vehicles impounded.
According to police, Torresduran, Mendozagua, Tucker, Spingola, Ahad Hotaki, Chavez, Edmond, Wheeler, Martinez, Edouard, Lozanosanchez, Muzamil Hotaki, Lopes and Tymon were charged with Participation in Unlawful Speed Contest and Spectating Unlawful Speed Contest.
Geevarghese was charged with Participation in Unlawful Speed Contest only.
The defendants are scheduled to appear at First District Court in Central Islip at a later date.
The arrests followed a night in which police said the group repeatedly shifted locations while authorities worked to prevent street takeovers before ultimately intercepting the activity in Medford.
What began with intelligence gathering and social media monitoring ended with 15 arrests, seven impounded vehicles and a series of traffic citations.
All criminal charges are accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.