Overnight drag racing in Borough Park turned ugly when a chaotic meetup around 3 a.m. left an NYPD officer in the hospital and a marked patrol car banged up near Knapp Street and Avenue W, authorities said. Multiple cars and a crowd of onlookers reportedly converged on the area for illegal street racing before things spun out of control.
According to News12 New York, police received a flurry of 911 calls about drag racing and reckless driving around 3 a.m. As officers rolled up, one vehicle slammed into the back of a marked NYPD cruiser. Investigators say an unidentified person then allegedly slashed the patrol car's tires, clambered onto the hood and smashed the passenger-side window. One officer was taken to a local hospital in stable condition. No arrests were made at the scene and the investigation is still in progress.
Large Car Meetups Have Become More Common
The Borough Park incident is only the latest in a growing series of so-called car takeovers that have been popping up across the city. In April, an illegal meetup in Maspeth featured cars whipping donuts around a ring of fire in the street, with people even jumping on a patrol vehicle, CBS News reported. That Queens spectacle also triggered a police investigation.
NYPD Steps Up Surveillance And Seizures
City officials say they are trying to stay ahead of the trend. The NYPD has been leaning on targeted patrols along with camera footage and social media monitoring to spot and break up illegal gatherings. As NY1 notes, the department has shut down dozens of similar takeovers this year and has seized vehicles and made arrests in some cases.
Legal Consequences Possible
There may not be any handcuffs yet in the Borough Park case, but past incidents show how quickly these events can turn into criminal court dates. Previous takeovers have led to charges that include reckless endangerment, riot and criminal mischief. In April, FOX 5 New York reported arrests tied to a Queens street takeover that involved those counts along with several vehicle-related charges.
Police are asking anyone with video or information from the Borough Park meetup to contact detectives as they work to identify everyone involved. As News12 New York reports, there were no arrests at the scene, and investigators plan to comb through available footage as the case moves forward.
