What Happened
At least 200 riders on ATVs, dirt bikes and motorcycles staged a reckless street takeover that swept through Hauppauge, Brentwood and Bay Shore on Saturday afternoon and evening, resulting in three arrests and the impoundment of 10 vehicles, according to Patch.
Suffolk County Police began receiving multiple 911 calls at approximately 4:20 p.m. reporting riders driving recklessly and performing stunts on Route 347 in Hauppauge. Fourth Precinct officers responded to the scene, arrested two people and impounded several vehicles. The sheer size of the group — more than 200 machines across multiple vehicle types — made containment difficult, and the group dispersed before reassembling at a second location.
The riders regrouped near Motor Parkway and Express Drive South in Brentwood, according to Suffolk County Police Department officials cited by Patch. Highway Patrol units and Third Precinct officers then tracked the group as it moved into Bay Shore. At approximately 6:30 p.m., two ATVs became mechanically disabled and their operators fled on foot. Officers caught up with one of the fleeing operators, who was found to be carrying a loaded gun.
The two riders arrested during the initial Hauppauge response were identified as Ava Mongiello, 23, of Mount Sinai, and Jahkil Arroyo, 29, of Central Islip. Both were charged with reckless driving, second-degree reckless endangerment, and unlawfully fleeing a police officer. Each was issued a desk appearance ticket rather than held in custody.
The third arrest, made in Bay Shore after the ATV breakdown, was Shamir Solomon, 22, of Roosevelt. Solomon was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, unlawful speed contest, and reckless driving. Unlike Mongiello and Arroyo, Solomon was held overnight at the Third Precinct and was scheduled to be arraigned Sunday at First District Court in Central Islip, per the Patch report.
In total, police impounded 10 vehicles across the multi-hour enforcement operation that involved Fourth Precinct officers, Highway Patrol, and Third Precinct units spanning the length of the takeover route from Hauppauge to Bay Shore.
Location & Road Context
The incident unfolded along a corridor cutting through central Suffolk County. Route 347 in Hauppauge is a heavily traveled commercial and commuter artery, and Saturday afternoon traffic would have been active when the first 911 calls came in just after 4:20 p.m. The route from Hauppauge through Brentwood — including the Motor Parkway and Express Drive South intersection — to Bay Shore covers several miles of densely populated suburban roadway. Our local incident database has recorded 667 accidents in Suffolk County, reflecting the consistent enforcement pressure on these roads. The multi-precinct and Highway Patrol response highlights how far and fast the group moved before officers could contain it.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Shamir Solomon, 22, of Roosevelt, faces the most serious charges of the three defendants. Second-degree criminal possession of a weapon is a felony under New York law, and Solomon’s overnight detention at the Third Precinct ahead of a Sunday arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip reflects the elevated severity of that charge compared to the traffic-related counts facing the other two. Ava Mongiello, 23, of Mount Sinai, and Jahkil Arroyo, 29, of Central Islip, were each issued desk appearance tickets on charges of reckless driving, second-degree reckless endangerment, and unlawfully fleeing a police officer — requiring them to appear in court at a later date rather than face immediate detention.
Broader Impact
Saturday’s takeover is part of a persistent pattern of large-group ATV and dirt bike events on Long Island roads that routinely challenge police because of the sheer volume of vehicles involved — a group of 200 is difficult to fully intercept without advance positioning. The discovery of a loaded firearm on one of the riders elevates this incident beyond a typical street-racing enforcement action. Readers tracking related incidents on these corridors can see a same-day pedestrian fatality and a concurrent street takeover report also logged July 26, as well as recent crashes on the Southern State Parkway and Sagtikos State Parkway from the prior day.