MASPETH, Queens (WABC) — Police have made an arrest in connection to a chaotic street takeover in Queens last weekend.
Nearly 100 cars gathered early Saturday morning in Maspeth and blocked street traffic while performing dangerous stunts around a ring of fire.
Police said that eight people in total are responsible for creating the chaos and they say it wasn’t only disorderly, it was dangerous.
Officials said Thursday that 22-year-old Asil Assaidi is facing 10 charges, including reckless endangerment, riot, criminal mischief and more.
As police look for additional suspects, neighbors gathered for the 104th Precinct’s community council meeting on Thursday night in a Ridgewood church to learn more about what’s being done to stop these reckless rendezvous.
“How do we get ahead of it? How do we know about it? How do we stop it before it gets there,” said Queens resident Barbara Meyer.
“You cannot just send one patrol car to stop a 100-car meetup, with hundreds of people gathering,” said Councilmember Phil Wong. “You cannot stop anybody that way. They’ll just disperse and jump on the patrol car and vandalize the windshield.”
While the 104th Precinct’s commanding officer acknowledged what happened and gave a timeline on Thursday night, he said they do have enough officers, and they also have a plan with the other precincts of Borough Patrol Queens North.
“We have a car from every unit, from every precinct on standby for pop-up car meets,” said 104thPrecinct Commanding Officer Capt. Joshua Rios. “If we have the intel ahead of time, we’re tactically forming up. We’re boxing these cars in. Engaging them, and summonses, confiscations, arrests. That can be done, that will be done.”
Residents told Eyewitness News they feel reassured.
“These things are organized somehow so as long as they get ahead of the eight-ball, they’ll be OK,” said Queens resident Frank Artim.
“I think there’s going to be a lot of community watches also,” said Queens resident Rose Fagan. “If we could start one, that would be wonderful. Because my family and I would love to be part of it.”
The NYPD said so far this year they have shut down 61 incidents and made 51 arrests while seizing 62 cars.
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