Massive Drag Racing Event Broken Up, 1 Arrested On Long Island: PD

ISLANDIA, NY — A massive crowd that had gathered for a drag racing event was broken up and one was man was busted for impaired driving Saturday night on Long Island, cops say.

The raid was in response to "numerous community complaints, and previous criminal incidents" in which street racing and reckless driving events were involved throughout the 4th Precinct, according to Suffolk cops.

Altogether seven different police units, including officers from the 4th Precinct Crime Section, Community Support Unit, and patrol, as well Highway Patrol, Canine Section, and Aviation took part in the raid. Officers descended on Oval Drive in Islandia between 11 p.m. Saturday and 4:30 a.m. Sunday, cops say.

Their investigation into "a street racing group" led them to a large group of vehicles that were parked near 88 Veterans Memorial Highway in Commack just before 10 p.m. and members of the group were driving recklessly, according to police.

The vehicles then proceeded to a predetermined location at Oval Drive in Islandia, where about 200 vehicles and 300 people were believed to be preparing to drag race.

Officers ended up issuing 119 summonses were issues for various vehicle and traffic law violations, according to police.

Nicolas Vaden, 26, of Patchogue, was arrested for driving while ability impaired by drugs and resisting arrest, police said. He was arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Sunday.