A Brooklyn man arrested and accused of striking and injuring a bystander at a so-called car takeover earlier this month in Patchogue has been indicted by a grand jury.
Matthew Mitchell, 20, is facing second-degree assault and other charges in relation to the incident, and could serve up to seven years behind bars if convicted of the top count, prosecutors said.
According to the Suffolk DA’s office, Mitchell struck a 19-year-old woman with a white Infiniti he was operating, “while allegedly performing dangerous amateur car stunts” and then fled the scene near Gateway Plaza.
“Real life is not ‘The Fast and the Furious,'” said District Attorney Ray Tierney.
Tierney also called Mitchell and others involved in the Patchogue car takeover, one of several that happened that same night across Long Island “wannabe race car drivers from outside of Suffolk County.”
He said the groups “thoughtlessly took over a number of our roadways, endangering lives, harassing our citizens, and even preventing an ambulance from passing.”
The victim in Patchogue, who was not identified, was taken to a local hospital by a friend and treated for a fractured femur and pelvis, prosecutors said.
Local police, with help from the NYPD, located and arrested Mitchell outside of his home in Brooklyn.
Michell’s attorney could not be immediately reached for comment but check back at Greater Long Island for any updates.
“These charges should serve as a warning to anyone who might think about engaging in similar conduct in Suffolk County,” Tierney said. “We will not stop until you are held responsible for your thoughtless and dangerous criminal conduct.
“The investigation of others involved in this alleged criminal behavior is continuing.”
The alleged incident happened about 1:15 a.m. on Oct. 6, where a large group of cars and people gathered at Gateway Plaza for the takeover, during which drivers were captured on videos widely circulated on social media doing doughnuts, spinning tires and drifting, along with other amateur car stunts.
In those posts, according to prosecutors, one video shows the victim being struck.
Suffolk Police used social media posts to locate witnesses and the defendant, Tierney said, adding a review of Mitchell’s driving history allegedly revealed his license had been revoked and he had six suspensions on six separate dates.
He’s also facing a felony charge of leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, and misdemeanor charges for reckless endangerment, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and reckless driving.
Justice Steven Pilewski ordered Mitchell held on $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond or $2,500,000 partially secured bond. He’s due back in court on Dec. 12.
Top: Screenshot pulled from a car takeover video that circulated across Long Island earlier this month.
