By Howard Koplowitz
The license plate on the 2001 BMW read “HEYOFFCR,” and it sure got the attention of authorities after its driver and the operators of three other cars were arrested last week for allegedly drag racing and speeding at more than 100 miles an hour on the Long Island Expressway, Nassau County police said.
The drivers of the four cars — three South Ozone Park men and another from Richmond Hill — were charged with reckless endangerment, reckless driving, unlawfully fleeing a police officer and illegal speed contest, police said.
A highway patrol officer noticed eight to 10 vehicles swerving in and out of four lanes on the LIE at around 1:18 a.m. Oct. 1 and began to follow the cars, police said. The vehicles did not cooperate when the officer tried to pull them over, police said.
Two marked police cars were then positioned on a westbound portion of the LIE, when slower traffic forced the cars to reduce their speed, police said. Four vehicles were stopped near Exit 37 in Roslyn, L.I..
Accused of driving the cars — a 2001 BMW, 2006 Mazda, 2004 Nissan and 2004 Infiniti — were John Anil Isaac, 22, of 124−08 107th Ave. in Richmond Hill; Riad Mohamed, 19, and Ziad Mohamed, 21, of 149−26 122nd Place in South Ozone Park; and Rajesh Prashaud, 21, of 135−26 Lefferts Blvd. in South Ozone Park, police said.
The cars, described as “high performance vehicles,” were impounded at the scene, police said.
Bail for all four men was set at $25,000 bond or $15,000 cash during their arraignment Oct. 1 at First District Court in Hempstead, L.I., according to a spokeswoman for the Nassau district attorney.
A corrections officer said he did not have information on any of the men, which he said indicated they were bailed out at court and never entered jail.
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e−mail at hkoplowitz@timesledger.com or by phone at 718−229−0300, Ext. 173.
