A Brooklyn man was arrested on suspicion of causing a crash on the Belt Parkway, but investigators say it was all a scam to extort insurance money, prosecutors said.
According to the Queens District Attorney's Office, Michael Martinez, 28, of Dyker Heights, was a passenger in a Honda Civic that backed into Asfia Narasha's car on Belt Parkway in Rosedale late on the night of Oct. 16. It was.
Martinez was arrested Thursday after arriving in the Big Apple on a flight from Ecuador. According to the prosecutor's office, he is charged with second-degree staging a motor vehicle accident, third-degree criminal mischief, first-degree reckless endangerment, and fifth-degree conspiracy and insurance fraud.
The charge was non-bailable, so he was released on his own recognizance, but Crown Court Judge Jerry Iannes ordered him to surrender his passport.
Natasha, who posted shocking front and rear dashcam footage of the crash on TikTok after the accident, took to social media again on Friday to express her relief at the arrest.
“I have an update for everyone. It's really good news,” Natasha said. “I just called the police and they told me that one person had been arrested. This is amazing progress.”
“I'm just really happy right now. This is really, really good news. Honestly, this is all because of you. Thank you so much for your support and the NYPD is working hard on this investigation. .”
Three other suspects are still at large, including the driver of the Honda, who Martinez claimed was his wife, prosecutors said.
Another woman and man who got out of the Honda, one of whom fled into a red Kia Sport, have not yet been identified.
According to the criminal complaint, the Honda was registered in the woman's name, and the woman filed a claim with Allstate Insurance Company after the staged crash.
“I think he meant to say he crashed their car for insurance fraud,” Natasha said on TikTok.
The heart-pounding incident happened while Natasha was on speakerphone with her husband.
According to the video, the driver of the erratic Honda merged from the center lane into the left lane to cut her off, then slammed on the brakes.
Natasha slammed on the brakes to avoid a collision and reacted quickly before the driver backed up senselessly, according to the DA's office and the video.
Prosecutors said they then placed what appeared to be a plastic tarpaulin over the back window to prevent Natasha from being seen while rearranging the seats.
“I just got into an accident. I don't know what's going on,” Natasha could be heard saying desperately to her husband. “This guy just flipped towards me. What the hell is going on?”
Martinez could spend up to seven years in prison if convicted and was ordered to return to court on January 7.
