Police break up street 'meetup' in Uniondale involving about 150 vehicles
Nassau police broke up a street takeover involving about 150 vehicles in Uniondale Tuesday night. Credit: Jonathan Singh
Police dispersed a “disorderly car meetup" of about 150 vehicles Tuesday night in Uniondale, with 22 vehicles being impounded and about 100 traffic tickets issued, the Nassau County Police Department said Wednesday.
The meetup, which took place around 10 p.m. without a permit, was in the vicinity of Mitchel Field, according to a news release, which said police from Nassau and Hempstead Village and units of the Bureau of Special Operations, Strategic Response Team and Criminal Intelligence Rapid Response Team, as well as canine and aviation personnel, all responded.
Newsday has reported how the meetups, typically promoted on viral social media posts, have posed problems for police departments on Long Island and in New York City.
While dispersing Tuesday’s meetup, officers stopped the driver of a Volkswagen who had broken several traffic laws, the release said. The officers allegedly found in the car “an illegal loaded tan .22LR caliber 1911 German Sport Gun."
All five occupants, ranging in age from 16 to 20, were charged with possession of the pistol, and the vehicle was seized. All were arraigned Wednesday, according to the release.
Also charged was the driver of an Audi that was found to have a forged inspection sticker and a baton in the trunk, although it was not clear how police discovered the baton. That driver was also arraigned Wednesday on charges related to the weapon and the bogus sticker.
Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.
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