4 Arrested In Suffolk County Illegal Car Meet, Street Racing Cases: Police

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — The Suffolk County Police Department’s Street Takeover Task Force has made four arrests following multiple 2025 investigations into illegal car meets and street racing incidents that police said posed serious risks to drivers, pedestrians, and officers.

According to police, the arrests stem from three separate incidents involving reckless driving, unlawful speed contests, and attempts to flee law enforcement.

“The Street Takeover Task Force has made Suffolk County safer by taking dangerous drivers off the roads and impounding vehicles,” Ed Romaine said. “I applaud Commissioner Kevin Catalina and the unit for addressing this critical quality-of-life issue.”

David Alvarado Zelaya, 26, of Wyandanch, was arrested Jan. 3 and charged with unlawful speed contests, sideshows, and races, police said. Zelaya was observed performing a burnout in a 2020 Dodge Charger in a parking lot at 437 William Floyd Parkway in Shirley on Dec. 28. Police said the vehicle had several equipment violations and was impounded.

Daniel Velasquez Chavez, 24, of North Bay Shore, was arrested Jan. 2 and charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, third-degree unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, and unlawful speed contests, sideshows, and races, police said.

The charges stem from a Dec. 7 incident in Brentwood, where officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, and Velasquez Chavez allegedly performed a burnout before fleeing at a high rate of speed recklessly. His vehicle was impounded.

Police also arrested a 17-year-old Centereach male on Jan. 2 and charged him with unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle and reckless driving. Police said the teen fled from officers in a 2013 Hyundai Genesis from a Selden parking lot at 401 Independence Plaza on Nov. 28. The vehicle was impounded.

Following that incident, Gerardo Benitez, 26, of Centereach — a relative of the teen — reported the Hyundai stolen, police said. Benitez was later charged with falsely reporting an incident.

“These arrests reflect the dedication and persistence of our Street Takeover Task Force,” Kevin Catalina said. “Illegal car meets put lives at risk, and we will continue to hold those responsible accountable.”

Police said since its inception in November 2024, the Street Takeover Task Force has broken up 92 street takeovers, issued 8,656 summonses, made 65 arrests, and impounded 103 vehicles.

Anyone with information about illegal car meets is urged to contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.