Speed demons caught drag-racing on Long Island: cops

A pair of knuckleheads was nabbed drag-racing on a Long Island highway early Tuesday — and could now lose their souped-up muscle cars, Suffolk County police said.

Cops spotted the rogue drivers in “an illegal speed contest” on William Floyd Parkway around 12:50 a.m., with their 2019 Ford Mustang and 2023 Dodge Charger initially eluding police during a brief chase.

Additional police units then responded and stopped the two cars near Smith Point Bridge.


Two muscle cars, one with red, white, and gray camouflage, parked on asphalt.
Suffolk County cops seized a Ford Mustang and Dodge Charger in a drag-racing bust early Tuesday. Suffolk County Police

Halee Salomon, 22, of Queens, who was behind the wheel of the Mustang, and 29-year-old Jake Roth of Lake Ronkonkoma were cited for unlawful speed contest, unlawful fleeing and reckless driving, along with multiple traffic violations, police said.

“Both drivers were issued field appearance tickets and are scheduled to appear at First District Court in Central Islip at a later date,” cops said.

“The vehicles were seized and will remain impounded as evidence and may be subject to forfeiture under local ordinance.”

In February last year, two drivers also were busted on the Long Island Expressway in Shirley for allegedly drag-racing with their car headlights off, just weeks after a cop was nearly killed on the highway.


Police car with flashing blue and amber lights at night.
Police on Long Island have targeted reckless drag-racers on their turf, including on the LIE, in recent years. Matt Gush – stock.adobe.com

Suffolk County Police Officer Brendon Gallagher, an Army vet, suffered near-fatal injuries in January 2025, too, while trying to stop a boozed-up drag-racer near the LIE’s Exit 55.

Gallagher bled out for 45 minutes after the wreck but later recovered from his injuries.

The arrests come after a series of wild car meet-ups in the region that has driven cops and locals crazy.

Seven people were arrested in The Bronx on May 10 after a car meet-up in the Eastchester section of the borough which included reports of drag racing, according to the NYPD.

Leave a Reply