A reckless driver who allegedly helped wreak havoc at a Queens intersection in a wild car meet-up surrendered to police Thursday — after video of the fiery mayhem sparked an uproar, cops and sources said.
Asil Assaidi, 22, was charged by cops with reckless endangerment, riot, criminal mischief and other raps for the unhinged Saturday gathering at the Eliot Avenue and 69th Street intersection along the Maspeth-Middle Village border, police said.
Sources said Assaidi was allegedly caught on video doing doughnuts in a blue Infiniti during the lawless street takeover in the neighborhood that locals described as otherwise “sleepy.”
“We will continue to go after anyone causing chaos and endangering the lives of New Yorkers,” the NYPD posted on X.
The arrest came after the department released photos and videos of a young-looking crew – three of them donning keffiyehs – suspected of unleashing the mayhem involved in the street takeover.
Footage taken at the shocking scene showed one brazen motorist apparently waving a Palestinian flag as he burned rubber – narrowly missing those standing around while the car made donuts around a ring of fire in the middle of the street.
Two men even jumped on the hood of a marked NYPD vehicle, causing damage and cracking the windshield, before speeding off in a black Nissan, police said.
Earlier this week, police impounded two of the vehicles – including the blue Infiniti and a purple one – linked to the reckless gathering, authorities said.
In total, one woman and seven men were allegedly involved, according to the department.
“Too often there are no consequences in the criminal justice system for this type of outrageous behavior. Clearly, it’s time for that to change,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch wrote on X.
“My hope and expectation is that Asil Assaidi will be held fully accountable for his actions.”
Council Member Phil Wong, who represents the area, said in a statement that Assaidi’s arrest marked “an important first step toward holding those responsible accountable.”
“What happened was reckless, dangerous, and completely unacceptable,” he added. “This individual is not the only one who will face consequences. More arrests are coming, and they should. Anyone who participated in this chaos and endangered lives must be held accountable.”
Wong – who met with Tisch this week – echoed his earlier calls for more cops on the beat to prevent such chaos on local streets.
He said Tuesday that cops had been patrolling a previous car meet-up in the Elmhurst and Corona area and there weren’t enough police cruisers to get to the fiery scene in time.
But an NYPD spokesperson said officers responded to the scene within a minute of receiving the 911 calls and “immediately began dispersing the gathering.”
The location doesn’t have a documented history of drag racing or car meetups, the department said.
“The NYPD has a robust and aggressive plan to deter and stop car meet-ups and the vast majority of them are shut down without incident,” police posted on X, alongside the arrest announcement. “So far this year, we have shut down 61 incidents, making 51 arrests and seizing 62 cars.”
