Detectives from the NYPD’s Warrant Squad collared a Bronx man and charged him with a slew of crimes in connection to the chaotic street takeover in Middle Village early Saturday morning.
Asil Assaidi, 22, of Williamsbridge Road in the Morris Park section of the borough, was booked Thursday morning at the 104th Precinct in Ridgewood, where he was charged with two counts of reckless endangerment, two counts of riot two counts of criminal mischief and other related crimes, less than a day after Council Member Phil Wong met with NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch to discuss the investigation at One Police Plaza.
Assaidi was seen smiling as he was escorted out of the 104th Precinct, and the only word he said was, “No.” He was talking to friends of his who were across the street filming his walk, and they were all laughing.
Assaidi was seen smiling and talking to friends across the street as he was escorted out of the 104th Precinct.Photo by Dean Moses
“The arrest of Asil Assaidi on charges including reckless endangerment, riot, and criminal mischief is an important first step toward holding those responsible accountable,” Wong said Thursday. “What happened was reckless, dangerous, and completely unacceptable.”
Council Member Phil Wong met with NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch at One Police Plaza on April 21 and then briefed the media.Courtesy of CM Wong’s office
Assaidi allegedly drove one of the 100 vehicles that were involved in the takeover at the intersection on Eliot Avenue and 69th Street where drivers burned rubber as they did donuts and drifted around a ring of fire set at the intersection dangerously close to two gas stations just before 2 a.m. on Saturday.
Assaidi allegedly drove one of the 100 vehicles that were involved in the takeover at the intersection on Eliot Avenue and 69th Street in Middle Village.Photo by Dean Moses
Assaidi was arrested April 23 and booked at the 104th Precinct in Ridgewood for his alleged role in a street takeover in Middle Village.Courtesy of CM Wong’s office
“This individual is not the only one who will face consequences. More arrests are coming, and they should,” Wong said. “Anyone who participated in this chaos and endangered lives must be held accountable. But enforcement alone is not enough. We need to prevent events like this from happening again.”
The NYPD released new surveillance images on April 22 showing three of the eight suspects wanted in connection with the chaotic street takeover by a hundred vehicles in Middle Village. Photos courtesy of the NYPD
It is unclear if Assaidi was one of the eight suspects who were captured on surveillance camera during the riotous car meetup that was released by the NYPD. Hours after his arrest, video of Assaidi performing stunts during the takeover was posted on the NYPD’s social media platforms along with a statement from Commissioner Tisch.
“Too often there are no consequences in the criminal justice system for this type of outrageous behavior,” she said. “Clearly, it’s time for that to change. My hope and expectation is that Asil Assaidi will be held fully accountable for his actions.”
NYPD Captain Joshua Rios and his officers from the 104th Precinct in Ridgewood arrived on scene within three minutes after receiving the first of many 911 calls reporting the disorderly crowd. Many of the vehicles fled north on 69th Street toward the Long Island Expressway, while some of the rioters pushed an orange construction barrier against a marked police vehicle and two of the men jumped onto the hood of the RMP, causing damage and cracking the windshield before they jumped down and fled the scene in a black Nissan that sped off westbound on Eliot Avenue toward Mount Olivet Cemetery.
Three of the eight suspects wore keffiyehs to disguise their identities. Photo courtesy of the NYPD
Wong noted that officers at the 104th Precinct were stretched thin after some were sent to another street takeover in the Elmhurst and Corona area in the confines of the 110th Precinct.
“As I said after my meeting with the Police Commissioner, we need more cops on our streets, and that is exactly what I am fighting for,” Wong said. “I thank Captain Rios and the men and women of the 104th Precinct Detective Squad for their work on this case. Our community deserves to feel safe, and we will not allow this kind of lawlessness to take hold.”
Assaidi was additionally charged with unlawful assembly, aggravated unlicensed operator, operating a motor vehicle without insurance, and reckless driving. His arraignment in Queens Criminal Court is pending.
“We will continue to go after anyone causing chaos and endangering the lives of New Yorkers,” the NYPD said in a statement posted on social media. “The NYPD has a robust and aggressive plan to deter car meet-ups and the vast majority of them are shut down without incident. So far this year, we have shut down 61 incidents, making 51 arrests and seizing 62 cars.”