Queens neighbours, troubled by an unruly car meetup mob, sought help from officials in a letter Monday after one of the events caused nearly riots on the streets.
Letters to Mayor Eric Adams and other state and federal politicians pleaded the city to take “decisive action” after the explosive video of a shocking video destroying NYPD vehicles along Rockaway Boulevard in Ozone Park around 1am Sunday.
The neighborhood is “under siege” by “a group that believes they can take over our streets, provoke our residents and openly challenge the NYPD.”
“It's very troublesome that these reckless gatherings are becoming a repeat problem. Participants are blocking roads badly, recording their activities and broadcasting them on social media,” wrote the president of the Ozone Park Resident Block Association on Monday.
“We are urgently urged to deploy dedicated tactical response teams in each borough to deal quickly and effectively with these gatherings,” Esposito continued, adding that the issues will get worse as the weather warms.
“The current burden on NYPD resources is unsustainable and we fear further injuries, deaths and even harm to officers seeking to dismantle these gatherings without immediate intervention.”
The letters also addressed to Senate minority leaders Chuck Schumer, Nidia Belazkez and other hosts come after police respond to the calls of dozens of people gathering on the streets for a meetup and meet up with angry mobs.
The astonishing image of Rockaway Boulevard Bedram spreads across social media and is eye-catching video where one person's destruction can get on or smack on an unmarked car before he gets on the hood of a cruiser and breaks the windshield with a traffic cone.
The others jumped into the car and threw another cone before the vehicle sirens and pulled away, footage showed.
Ruffians also threw a traffic cone on the NYPD cruiser marked during Skirmish, Video show.
Several people in the neighborhood said the competition is regular and hundreds of people blocked traffic and parking on local driveways.
“They're here every other Saturday night,” said Julio, who has been living in Ozone Park for the past 20 years. “That s-t was crazy the other day. The whole block is full of cars.
He added that the problem is escalating and that meetups happen “where there is a big open spot.”
His companions, who live on the same block, said the group gathers every few weeks.
“This last thing, they were shooting fireworks,” he said. “We didn't fireworks before, but it was just crazy because it was on the fence over there and parked in people's driveways and traffic was backed up.”
In their letter, residents of Ozone Park cited the death of 15-year-old Sabrina Villa Gomez of Nanuet in January 2024 – he died in a similar sindig in the Bronx – as evidence of the fatal consequences of the meetup.
On Monday, her father Jorge Villa Gomez said the event, in which drivers spin doughnuts and try other wild stunts, is “very dangerous for children and for families.”
“My heart is very broken…every time, I remember my daughter,” he said. “I'll tell the police they have to pay more attention… they have to [them] It's more controlled. ”
Gilvante Roberson, 21, died in the same accident that night. And his grieving mom, Sabrina Roberson, said he hopes his children learn that their pursuits are “not worth it.”
“That particular night… I hadn't spoken to my son that Saturday afternoon,” she said. “The last thing I said to him was, 'I love you.' He said, “I love you too.” that's it.
“I didn't see him anymore until I saw him.”
She said she hopes the city doesn't get crowded with city streets, but gives children a safer place to do their tricks.
“I know New Yorkers are against it [the meetups]She said. “But if I want them to stop, I give them legal space to do what they do, and feel like no one gets in the way and not exhaust all that energy.
“You can have a police presence there to see if everything goes well,” she continued. “I don't know because it won't stop. I can tell you that right now.”
The NYPD did not report any injuries in the scrum on Sunday, but the vandals said they stopped three police cars and broke several windows.
Sources said the three were arrested late Sunday morning in the Bronx.
Yordi Montesquieu, 23, of Massachusetts, was accused of third-degree criminal mischief, second reckless danger, second illegal escape from a police vehicle and obstructing government administration, police said.
Tyler Newman, 18, from New Hampshire, was hit by a government administration. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Queens local Tristian Nandrum has been charged with third-degree criminal mischief and has been charged with obstructing government administration, possession of stolen property and sheds, along with copying and sources.
Nandrum has been accused of stealing documents from the back of the police car, sources said.
Authorities said that recklessly driving on Saturday nights is still hunting others involved in vandalism.
“We do not tolerate lawlessness or vandalism targeting police,” Chief Jessica Tish said. I said in x“We announced that “several individuals” have been arrested for crimes that put our officers and the streets at risk.
“Don't worry, we'll be back soon for the rest of them.”
PBA President Patrick Hendry argued that the obstacle was a result of “the city's anti-political environment.”
“We believe that criminals are free and fearful about our community and are attacking officers. “Cops are tired of dealing with this environment, and that's another big reason why they're running to the exit.”
Esposito, the Ozone Park Group, called on city leaders to “take decisive action before the issue becomes even more out of control.”
“This has been a trend that has worsened over the past five years, with each incident increasing in scale and boldness,” he writes. “Our community deserves to feel safe and law enforcement should not have to face these dangerous situations without proper assistance.”
