What started as a roaring swarm of riders tearing down Route 347 ended with three people in handcuffs, ten vehicles on tow trucks and one loaded gun off the street, according to Suffolk County police.
Officers said a massive street takeover unfolded Saturday, drawing at least 200 ATVs, dirt bikes and motorcycles onto Route 347 and surrounding roads. The chaotic ride rolled through Hauppauge and Brentwood before splintering in Bay Shore, where police closed in. One operator taken into custody there was found carrying a loaded firearm, authorities said. The crackdown followed a wave of 911 calls from drivers reporting reckless riding and stunts on the roadway.
As reported by ABC7 New York, police said roughly 200 off-road vehicles were involved and ten vehicles were ultimately impounded after officers moved in to break up the takeover. The operation stretched across multiple communities, forcing officers to shadow riders from town to town before they could finally disperse the crowd.
Arrests and Charges
According to PIX11, the three people arrested were identified as 23-year-old Ava Mongiello of Mount Sinai, 29-year-old Jahkil Arroyo of Central Islip and 22-year-old Shamir Solomon of Roosevelt.
Police said Mongiello and Arroyo were each charged with reckless driving, second-degree reckless endangerment and unlawfully fleeing a police officer. Solomon faces charges of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, taking part in an unlawful speed contest and reckless driving.
Two ATVs became disabled during the pursuit in Bay Shore, according to police. One of those operators, officers said, was the person found with the loaded gun.
How Police Tracked the Riders
The arrests come as Suffolk County's street takeover task force, which launched in November 2024 and was later made permanent, has ramped up efforts to monitor and break up coordinated rides, as reported by News 12 New York.
Officials told News 12 the unit leans on community tips, social media monitoring and intelligence from partner agencies to spot planned takeovers before they unfold. That wider crackdown has already led to multiple arrests and vehicle impoundments across Long Island this summer, authorities said.
Legal Next Steps
Prosecutors are now reviewing the charges, and local courts will handle arraignments. PIX11 reported that Solomon is scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Central Islip. Information on other court dates and whether the district attorney will pursue additional charges was not immediately available.
Neighbors and Enforcement
Street takeovers like Saturday's have increasingly rattled residents and local officials, who argue the large, fast-moving convoys put both riders and bystanders at serious risk. Suffolk County officials have urged the public to flag any planned events, saying those tips have already helped the task force step in on similar reports this year, according to News 12 New York.
