Officials from the New York City Police Department announced on Tuesday that they had confiscated two modified cars connected to a chaotic car rally in Queens over the weekend. In response, local law enforcement has intensified their patrols and urged city police to act against threats to public safety.
The seized vehicles are two Infinitis—one blue and one purple—linked to the rowdy rally that took place at the intersection of Elliott Street and 69th Street near the Maspeth-Middle Village border.
City Councilman Phil Wong reported that during a meeting that day, Police Chief Jessica Tisch informed him about the recovery of the cars.
“As of this morning, two vehicles have been seized, but no arrests have been made yet,” Wong remarked. “The police are on it, and there’s been a lot of movement. I appreciate the efforts of the Commissioner and the Queens North team for their quick action. However, this issue highlights the need for more officers, which I expressed to her.”
This update follows the NYPD’s release of photos and videos showcasing younger individuals allegedly involved in the occupation of the streets, with three of them wearing keffiyehs.
Additionally, police shared images of four other cars tied to the violent street encounter.
Wong noted that while police had been monitoring earlier car events in Elmhurst and Corona, there weren’t enough units available to respond quickly to the chaos.
“It’s evident that there was a shortage of police vehicles that night, along with not enough patrol cars and officers,” a police spokesperson acknowledged.
“However, I’ve been informed by the Secretary that new graduates will be joining the force, and many will be assigned to various sections throughout New York City,” they added.
“This is indeed a pressing public safety concern,” Wong continued. “It’s not just about speeding or roadblocks. When people set fires or obstruct roads criminally, it’s essential we hold them accountable.”
Bronx City Councilman Oswaldo Feliz mentioned that a similar group of disruptive cars caused trouble in the area a few months prior, even performing stunts on top of police vehicles.
“Such behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our city under any circumstances,” Feliz stated. “This issue has persisted for decades—it clearly needs more attention.”
