Westchester Teen Street Racer Charged With Assault, Reckless Driving After Nearly Striking Cop

Officers from the Yonkers Police Department responded to a stretch of Central Park Avenue at approximately 2:45 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17, where there was a report of drivers engaged in a disorderly car meet in a parking lot.

Yonkers Police Det. Sgt. Dean Politopoulos said that officers had dealt with the group in several other parking lots in the area that night, having dispersed them in an effort to prevent drag racing on Central Park Avenue and reduce noise complaints. Multiple summonses were issued for unsafe burnouts.”

Politopoulos said that officers again stopped several vehicles in the above parking lot and were engaged in enforcement activity when the operator of a 2007 black Infinity G35 - later identified as 18-year-old Daniel Vallecillo - took-off unsafely and accelerated to a high rate of speed in the parking lot attempting to leave the scene, maneuvering towards an officer outside his vehicle.

The officer told Vallecillo to stop, unsuccessfully, and had to move out of the way to avoid being struck; other officers who observed this then attempted to stop the vehicle, and then in an effort to evade the police Vallecillo hopped a curb lost control and struck a concrete wall, which rendered the Infinity inoperable.

Vallecillo was arrested at the scene and charged with attempted assault, reckless endangerment, reckless driving and unlawful fleeing of a police officer in a motor vehicle. He was also issued 12 summonses. Following his arraignment in Yonkers City Court, Vallecillo was released and is scheduled to appear in court on Friday, Aug. 23.

“The Yonkers Police does not and will not tolerate drag-racing on our city streets and highways,” Yonkers Police Commissioner John Mueller stated. “These car meets and the issues they bring degrade the quality-of-life of our residents and will be met with strict enforcement. And to anyone who would dare place our officers in danger, you will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

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