Secaucus Police Arrest 12 People From August 'Street Takeover' On County Avenue

SECAUCUS, NJ — On Thursday, Secaucus Police announced they have now arrested a total of 12 people connection with the "street takeover" that happened Aug. 31 at the intersection of Secaucus Road and County Avenue.

The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests may follow, said Secaucus Police.

In the years and months leading up to the street takeover, there were many reports of people drag racing through Secaucus, and up and down Meadowlands Parkway. The problem came to a head on Aug. 31 of this year when, at 2:30 in the morning, more than 100 cars took over the intersection of County Avenue/Secaucus Road, spinning and doing stunts, including donuts, while spectators recorded.

People sat on top of cars that were parked in the middle of County Avenue. One driver lost control in a stunt and hit onlookers, said police.

When Secaucus Police responded in marked patrol cars, Police Chief Dennis Miller said the officers "came under attack" from the crowd. Someone exploded pyrotechnics at and under a marked Secaucus Police car while an officer was inside the car. Other people jumped onto the hood of the police cruiser, causing thousands of dollars worth of damage. See video of what happened that night here: https://www.facebook.com/reel/...

On Oct. 6, members of the Secaucus Police Anti-Crime Unit, Patrol and Detective Divisions and Traffic Bureau arrested four drivers from that night. They are:

• Raphael I. Coronel-Palacios, 21, of Roselle Park, NJ
• Kyle Pound, 23, of Matawan, NJ
• Joseph Miele, 22, of Jackson, NJ
• Louis Mercado, 18, of South Amboy, NJ

All were charged with Riot – Public Brawl to Incite Disorderly Conduct [2C:33-1c], Recklessly Creating a Risk of Widespread Injury [2C:17-2c] and Endangering Another Person [2C:24 7.1a(2)] along with numerous motor vehicle summonses. With the exception of Pound, each was issued a summons and released pending an appearance in court. Pound was turned over to the Robbinsville Police Department on an active warrant for his arrest on charges stemming from him striking and injuring an onlooker with his car during another “street takeover” in Robbinsville.

At the time of those four arrests, three vehicles involved in the incident were seized by Secaucus Police, a 2004 Lexus, 2017 BMW and a 1992 Mazda.

This December, eight more people were charged. They are:

• Mario I. Cruz, 20, of Morganville, NJ
• Geovanni J. Twiggs, 24, of South Amboy, NJ
• Jameson P. Healey, 19, of Parlin, NJ
• Ezzaddin Alsaedi, 26, of Bronx, NY
• Mutasim F. Alsaidi, 20, of Bronx, NY
• Gabriel Tevis, 21, of Virginia Beach, VA
• Rahjel Conze, 20, of Glen Cove, NY
• Isaiah Deleon, 25, of Queens, NY

All were charged with Riot – Public Brawl to Incite Disorderly Conduct [2C:33-1c]. Tevis and Deleon are also charged with Recklessly Creating a Risk of Widespread Injury [2C:17-2c] and Endangering another Person [2C:24-7.1a(3)]. Conze is also charged with Criminal Mischief [2C:17-3a(1)] and Obstructing the Administration of Law [2C:29-1a].

An 18-year-old from East Brunswick was charged on a Juvenile Complaint with Riot – Public Brawl to Incite Disorderly Conduct [2C:33-1c]; he was 17 at the time of the incident. An 18-year-old from Shirley, NY was charged on a Juvenile Complaint with Riot – Public Brawl to Incite Disorderly Conduct [2C:33-1c], Criminal Mischief [2C:17-3a(1)] and Obstructing the Administration of Law [2C:29-1a]; he was also 17 last summer.

Additionally, the Secaucus Police Traffic Bureau issued 33 motor vehicle summonses to the registered owners for equipment violations on vehicles that participated in the street takeover on August 31.

“In August, I vowed that Secaucus Police Department would hold those accountable for putting my officers’ lives at risk, and I hope the message is clear: If you come to Secaucus and put others in harm’s way, we will hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller said Thursday.

Secaucus Police worked with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office and the FBI to make these arrests.

First report: People Shoot Fireworks At Secaucus Police Cars, Climb On Squad Cars As Cops Break Up Street Racing (Aug. 31)

Whole statement from Chief Miller on this:

“The various units of the Secaucus Police Department worked as swiftly as possibly to file these charges while working within the confines of the law and our constitution. I would like to thank and commend Deputy Chief Martin Moreda for spearheading this investigation. I also want to praise our Planning and Intelligence Section under the leadership of Captain Kimberly Elphick, our Anti-Crime Unit under the supervision of Detective Sergeant Joseph Fuardo, our Traffic Bureau under the leadership of Lieutenant Giacomo Sallustio, Executive Assistant Prosecutor Keith Travers and Assistant Prosecutor Max Bosco of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office for their assistance throughout this investigation.”