A chaotic street takeover in New York City’s Malba neighborhood erupted over the weekend, leaving a couple battered and a car torched in what officials have labeled a ‘planned attack.’ The incident, which took place around 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, saw a large group of drivers descend on South Drive and 141st Street, according to the NYPD. The vehicles were seen speeding over residential lawns and performing donuts in the street, escalating the situation into a chaotic scene. As the events unfolded, Larry Rusch, a local security guard who lives in the area, heard the commotion outside his home and went out to discover approximately 40 vehicles speeding through the street, according to The New York Post.
In an attempt to defuse the situation, Rusch reportedly parked one of his vehicles in the intersection to try to block drivers from causing more damage. However, he quickly realized that his efforts were in vain when two individuals approached his car and set it on fire, sparking a melee. Video shared by City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino, who represents the neighborhood, shows the aftermath of the incident, with multiple cars speeding around the burning vehicle, highlighting the extent of the destruction. Local resident Blake Ferrer was also injured while attempting to defend his property from the rowdy group of drivers, with some footage showing a group of individuals allegedly attacking the homeowner and his wife, leaving the man with a broken nose, shoulder, and ribs.
The incident has sparked concerns among residents and officials alike, with City Councilwoman Paladino criticizing the NYPD’s response time to the scene. She stated that residents who called 911 to report the incident were informed that a ‘quality of life team and 311 should handle the situation.’ The NYPD, however, defended its response, stating that while the initial responding officer was rerouted to a more serious call, an officer was quickly dispatched to the scene once the incident was upgraded to a higher priority. The department said it is planning to increase patrols in the area to ‘ensure this doesn’t happen again.’ Despite these efforts, Paladino expressed concerns regarding the lack of accountability within the city regarding similar cases, calling the incident a ‘planned attack’ and emphasizing that the perpetrators were ‘prepared to do exactly what they did.’ The incident underscores ongoing challenges with crime and disorder in the city, with Paladino noting that the neighborhood has been plagued by home robberies, burglaries, car thefts, and other crimes for the past two years.