Two arrested in Islip street racing 'takeover' as county forms task force to strengthen enforcement

Suffolk County officials announced the formation of a street racing task force Friday after the arrests of two men charged in an illegal race Sunday that injured a police officer and caused a fiery crash as drivers tried to flee near Sunrise Highway in Islip. 

Police charged the two men, Jordy Yanzaguano, 20, of Westbury, and Dennis Kaprov, 21, of Brooklyn, saying the race they participated in early Sunday was part of a "street takeover" that caused mass chaos with other drivers in the area and interfered with emergency responders. 

Kaprov was the driver of a black Ford Mustang that was stopped for driving recklessly, only to have a crowd of onlookers attack the Third Precinct officer who made the stop, police said. That officer, whose identity has not been released, was dragged by the car as it fled.

The Mustang was then involved in a crash with another vehicle at Commack Road and Wallace Street. The driver, now identified by police as Kaprov, ran away.

"In this incident, our officer went into this crowd of extremely unruly people, attempted to take police action, and this is what occurred," Suffolk County Deputy Commissioner Kevin Catalina said, standing before the seized cars Friday at the Suffolk County Police Academy in Brentwood.

"These takeovers are becoming more dangerous, causing crashes, injuries, including Suffolk County police officers. This activity will not be tolerated and we will arrest those who participate," Catalina said. "We want people to know that even if you flee when police arrive, it doesn't mean you will not be held accountable." 

Police said officers responded to the scene along the westbound Sunrise Highway service road, near Commack Road, following a series of 911 calls reporting "vehicles blocking traffic" around 1 a.m. Sunday.

The Third Precinct officer injured while being dragged during the stop had previously been involved in a crash at the scene, police said Friday. That officer's patrol unit also struck a utility pole while attempting to avoid a pedestrian in the roadway.

Once the officer had exited his car, he made the stop on the Mustang, with decals and a license plate reading "BKMENACE." Police said he then was attacked by a group of onlookers, who punched him, before he was dragged by the car. He was later hospitalized and released.

"The defendant drove away while the officer's hands were on the front driver's side window," police wrote in charging documents. "The defendant dragged the officer about 15 feet down the road before he was able to let go."

The street race was one of several racing stunts in past months that have shut down streets and blocked emergency responders, including in Patchogue and Miller Place. 

Officials said the new task force, including police, Suffolk County district attorney investigators and sheriff's deputies, would seek to disrupt and stop reckless driving and street racing gatherings. 

"Thank God our voices are heard," Lorri Holmes, who witnessed Sunday's incident and notified police, said of the task force. "I’ve never witnessed anything like that before in my life. ... Very scary."

Tavion Baker of Islip said he has seen street takeover-type activity before, but described Sunday morning's affair as "very dangerous."

"I’ve seen these things before and normally they’re in like a parking lot, or like a secluded area that’s away from any real harm to other people," Baker said. "This was on the service road right here."

Baker added that everyone who was involved in or even just near the affair are "lucky."

"People could have died," he said. "People could have been set on fire. Civilians who weren’t even a part of it and were just trying to get through could have been injured." 

Intelligence officers are monitoring social media for planned takeover events, and Suffolk County Crime Stoppers is offering $500 cash rewards, payable within 72 hours, for information that leads to an arrest, officials said.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney and County Executive Edward P. Romaine said Friday that they would seek new legislation to allow authorities to seize vehicles and other property used in street racing using criminal forfeiture laws. Authorities can seize property through civil forfeiture after felony convictions, but Tierney said prosecutors would also like to seize vehicles charged in reckless driving for misdemeanor convictions. 

"I think I can speak for all of law enforcement, when I say, we're done, OK?" Tierney said. "This needs to end. This is a public health issue. There are individuals who are getting hurt at these scenes, there are police officers or first responders that are getting injured. This is going to end."

Police said Yanzaguano was identified as the driver of a Chrysler 300M bearing a Hellcat emblem and said he was arrested Wednesday, charged with second-degree reckless endangerment and unlawful speed contests, sideshows and races. Police said he performed doughnuts in the middle of an intersection as a group of spectators looked on.

Yanzaguano was issued a desk appearance ticket and faces arraignment at a later date.

Police said Kaprov was arrested Thursday and charged with second-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment and second-degree reckless endangerment, as well as leaving the scene of an accident and unlawful speed contests, sideshows and races.

Kaprov pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Friday morning in First District Court in Central Islip. He was released with nonmonetary bail conditions. 

Kaprov's attorney could not be reached for comment. 

On Sunday, Islip Fire Department Chief Jared Gunst estimated as many as 100 vehicles had blocked roadways as volunteers responded to a report of small fires in the area — and said the situation slowed firefighters and emergency vehicles trying to get to the fire scene.

Last month, a 19-year-old Holbrook woman was injured while watching an illegal "car takeover" event shortly after 1 a.m. in a parking lot at Gateway Plaza on Sunrise Highway in Patchogue, police said at the time. The Patchogue location is 11 miles from where Sunday's incident took place.

With Shari Einhorn, Nicholas Grasso, Brianne Ledda and Grant Parpan