Grinning suspect cuffed after alleged fiery street takeover, drag race caught on camera

A operator who allegedly helped wreak havoc during a "reckless" drag-racing thoroughfare takeover was paraded retired of his flat successful handcuffs.

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the apprehension of 22-year-old Asil Assaidi connected Thursday. Assaidi was charged with reckless endangerment and riot pursuing a bid of "dangerous, fiery driving stunts" adjacent 2 New York City state stations connected April 18.

"Too often determination are nary consequences successful the transgression justness strategy for this benignant of outrageous behavior," New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. "Clearly, it’s clip for that to change.

"My anticipation and anticipation is that Asil Assaidi volition beryllium held afloat accountable for his actions," she said.

NYPD INVESTIGATING 'RECKLESS' DRAG RACING STREET TAKEOVER IN QUEENS

Asil Assaidi is pictured successful constabulary custody leaving the NYPD's 104th Precinct stationhouse successful Queens connected Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Barry Williams / New York Daily News via Getty Images)

Asil Assaidi is pictured leaving the NYPD's 104th Precinct stationhouse successful Queens connected Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Barry Williams / New York Daily News via Getty Images)

Assaidi, who grinned wide arsenic helium was led retired of an NYPD stationhouse connected his mode to tribunal for his arraignment, did not person immoderate anterior arrests, constabulary said. People believed to beryllium his friends were besides pictured arsenic the fishy was captured leaving the station.

WATCH: Drag racing suspects origin chaos successful NYC thoroughfare takeover

The territory attorney's bureau said that Assaidi participated successful a drag-racing thoroughfare takeover involving much than 100 vehicles successful Queens that triggered an NYPD investigation.

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Asil Assaidi is seen leaving the NYPD's 104th Precinct stationhouse successful Queens connected Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Barry Williams / New York Daily News via Getty Images)

People ticker arsenic Assaidi (not pictured) leaves the NYPD's 104th Precinct stationhouse successful Queens connected Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Barry Williams / New York Daily News via Getty Images)

The incidental was reported soon earlier 2 a.m. adjacent Eliot Avenue and 69th Street, according to the NYPD. One of the participants waved a Palestinian emblem retired the car model portion screeching astir the intersection.

When officers arrived astatine the scene, they activated their lights and sirens to disperse the crowd. Dozens of vehicles past fled the area.

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A thoroughfare takeover unfolds successful Queens successful New York City connected April 18, 2026. (Alexander Negron via Storyful)

Queens Criminal Court Judge Indira Khan ordered Assaidi to instrumentality to tribunal May 14. If convicted of the apical charge, Assaidi faces up to 7 years successful prison.

Authorities allege that Assaidi was operating a bluish Infiniti G37 with a acheronian hood sheet and missing beforehand bumper during the thoroughfare racing.

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Assaidi, they allege, drove the car successful circles astir the intersection, astir colliding with respective radical lasting nearby. Skid marks formed connected the roadworthy aboveground and fume and sparks were produced from the rear extremity of the car, constabulary said.

An idiosyncratic poured liquid onto the crushed and ignited a ringing of flames betwixt Assaidi's car and the crowd.

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The suspect, authorities allege, repeated the reckless driving with a 2nd operator successful a metallic conveyance that included a 2nd ringing of flames successful beforehand of the crowd.

NYPD officers respond to a resistance racing takeover successful Queens, New York City. (New York Police Department Crime Stoppers)

During the incident, a fewer radical besides allegedly jumped connected the hood of an NYPD vehicle, causing harm and cracking the windshield earlier fleeing the country successful a achromatic car.

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No injuries were reported successful transportation with the drag-racing incident.

Fox News Digital has reached retired to the NYPD for comment.

Fox News Digital's Landon Mion contributed to this report.