15 charged, cars impounded after street takeover in Medford

Fifteen people face charges and seven cars were impounded after an early-morning street takeover in Medford, according to the Suffolk County Police Department.

By monitoring social media, the police department’s Street Takeover Task Force learned of a planned takeover Friday night and tracked the participants to Woodside Avenue and Sawgrass Drive shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday. The cars were "driving recklessly, performing stunts in the roadway, and doing donuts and burnouts," according to a police department news release.

The 15 people arrested were from a range of Long Island communities, as well Manhattan and Queens. They were charged with participation in an unlawful speed contest and spectating at an unlawful speed contest. Traffic tickets also were issued.

Illegal racing meetups sometimes involve dozens or even hundreds of cars and other vehicles, blocking roads and creating a hazard for other drivers.

Suffolk police created the Street Takeover Task Force in November 2024, after a street race resulted in a crash. The county legislature also passed a law the following month allowing participants and spectators to be charged.

Since then, the task force has made more than 100 arrests and impounded more than 150 vehicles.

The task force interrupted several takeovers earlier this summer. In late July, more than 200 ATVs, dirt bikes, motorcycles raced on a busy section of Route 347 in Hauppauge, Newsday previously reported. Four people were arrested and 10 vehicles seized.

On July 17, police shut down a street race in East Farmingdale and arrested nine people, issued 46 tickets and impounded 12 vehicles.

The 15 people arrested Saturday were released on appearance tickets in First District Court in Central Islip at later dates.