SECAUCUS, NJ — Four drivers were arrested in connection with an August street takeover where participants attacked police officers and caused thousands of dollars in damage to a patrol vehicle.
Secaucus police arrested Raphael I. Coronel-Palacios, 21, of Roselle Park; Kyle Pound, 23, of Matawan; Joseph Miele, 22, of Jackson; and Louis Mercado, 18, of South Amboy on Oct. 6.
The arrests stem from an incident on Aug. 31 at the intersection of Secaucus Road and County Avenue where numerous vehicles drove recklessly with passengers sitting on exterior portions of the vehicles.
One vehicle struck onlookers when a driver lost partial control during the incident.
Participants exploded pyrotechnics at and under a marked police vehicle while an officer was inside.
Other participants jumped onto the hood of the police vehicle, causing thousands of dollars in damage.
Each of the four drivers was charged with riot, recklessly creating a risk of widespread injury and endangering another person, along with numerous motor vehicle summonses.
Three of the drivers were issued summonses and released pending court appearances.
Pound was turned over to Robbinsville police on an active warrant for charges stemming from striking and injuring an onlooker with his vehicle during a street takeover in that municipality.
Police seized three vehicles involved in the incident: a 2004 Lexus, 2017 BMW and 1992 Mazda.
In December, eight additional individuals were charged by complaint summons with riot for their involvement: Mario I. Cruz, 20, of Morganville; Geovanni J. Twiggs, 24, of South Amboy; Jameson P. Healey, 19, of Parlin; Ezzaddin Alsaedi, 26, of Bronx, New York; Mutasim F. Alsaidi, 20, of Bronx, New York; Gabriel Tevis, 21, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Rahjel Conze, 20, of Glen Cove, New York; and Isaiah Deleon, 25, of Queens, New York.
Tevis and Deleon were also charged with recklessly creating a risk of widespread injury and endangering another person.
Conze was also charged with criminal mischief and obstructing the administration of law.
An 18-year-old male of East Brunswick was charged on a juvenile complaint with riot.
An 18-year-old male of Shirley, New York, was charged on a juvenile complaint with riot, criminal mischief and obstructing the administration of law.
The Secaucus Police Traffic Bureau issued 33 motor vehicle summonses to registered owners for equipment violations on vehicles that participated in the street takeover.
The investigation involved the Secaucus Police Planning and Intelligence Section, Anti-Crime Unit and Traffic Bureau, working with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office and the FBI.
