YAPHANK, N.Y. — Four Connecticut men were arrested and a truck, trailer and race car were impounded following an alleged street takeover in Yaphank early Sunday morning, according to the Suffolk County Police Department.
Police said a 911 caller reported a large gathering of vehicles at approximately 1:10 a.m. on September 13 on Express Drive North, west of Sills Road.
Members of the Suffolk County Police Street Takeover Task Force responded to the area and observed vehicles racing, according to the department. Police said the vehicles began dispersing after officers arrived.
Officers subsequently stopped a truck that was towing a trailer carrying a race car and arrested four people.
Police identified the driver as Christian Vargas Hernandez, 28, of Meriden, Connecticut. He was charged with reckless driving, third-degree unlawful fleeing of a police officer in a motor vehicle, and unlawful speed contests, sideshows and races.
Three other Meriden residents — John Maldonado, 33; Lawrence Torres, 30; and Efrain Rivera, 35 — were each charged with unlawful speed contests, sideshows and races, according to police.
The department said the truck, trailer and race car were impounded.
All four men were issued Field Appearance Tickets and are scheduled to be arraigned at a later date. Police did not announce an arraignment date in the release.
The arrests are the latest enforcement action involving Suffolk County’s Street Takeover Task Force. In July, the department reported arresting nine people and impounding 12 vehicles following a separate alleged street takeover in East Farmingdale. Police said that incident involved vehicles blocking a roadway while drivers allegedly performed stunts, donuts and burnouts.
In the Yaphank case, police have not alleged that the four defendants have any connection to the July incident.
No injuries were reported in Sunday’s police release.
The case remains at the accusation stage. A criminal charge is not a conviction, and all four defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.