Officers honored for fast actions to avert tragedy at Riverhead street fair

Three Riverhead public safety officers were honored Tuesday night for their quick response to a speeding driver at the Polish Town Fair, action that officials said prevented injuries to fairgoers and vendors.

Traffic Control Officer Ryan Zaleski and Police Officers Matthew Neknez and Stephan Ady received proclamations from Supervisor Jerry Halpin and the Town Board for their roles in stopping the vehicle Sunday morning.

Lt. Jonathan Devereaux gave an account of the events that unfolded Sunday morning shortly after the fair opened.

Zaleski, who was assigned to the Polish Town Fair, observed a Hyundai sedan being operated erratically on Sweezy Avenue by a female driver. 

The Hyundai struck a parked vehicle on Sweezy Avenue and was attempting to leave the scene as Zaleski approached it on foot. It then struck a second vehicle on Pulaski and fled the area at a high rate of speed, traveling northbound toward Osborn Avenue, Devereaux said. Meanwhile, Zaleski radioed the vehicle description, direction of travel and license plate number
she fled the area at a high rate of speed, warning officers stationed at the fair of the erratic operator in the area of the event.

Within minutes, several uniformed officers observed the Hyundai traveling southbound on Osborn Avenue at a high rate of speed toward the festival area, which had been closed to vehicular traffic for the two-day annual fair.

Several officers attempted to stop the vehicle, Devereaux said.  However, the driver continued around marked police vehicles and uniformed officers, he said. As the vehicle continued southbound on Osborn Avenue toward the festival, Lt. Dino Isgro attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver refused to stop.  

Neknez transmitted the vehicle’s direction of travel and its immediate threat to the large number of pedestrians in its path. 

Ady, who was assigned to the fair, jumped in a nearby patrol car and responded to the Hyundai’s location, as reported by Neknez.  Observing the suspect’s failure to stop and the vehicle’s close proximity to the fair, Ady made the decision to stop the vehicle by positioning his vehicle between the Hyundai’s lane of travel and the fair. His police vehicle was then struck by the suspect’s vehicle. Ady sustained minor injuries and was treated and released at Peconic Bay Medical Center, according to a police press release about the incident issued Monday.

“Police Officer Ady’s actions prevented the vehicle from further risk to the thousands of people at the fair,” Devereaux said. “Due to the actions of Traffic Control Officer Zaleski transmitting all the pertinent information, Police Officer Neknez advising the officers on scene of the gravity of the situation, and P.O. Ady’s selfless act of heroism, there were no injuries to any of the attendees of the Polish Town Fair or the police officers involved,” Devereaux said.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as Blanca Jimenez-Tapia, 34, of Riverhead. She was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, third-degree unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle and multiple state Vehicle and Traffic Law violations, Riverhead Town Police said in the press release Monday. Jimenez-Tapia was taken into custody and transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of minor injuries sustained in the collision, police said.

The town supervisor presented the three men with proclamations honoring them for their fast, heroic actions which he said undoubtedly saved lives Sunday. 

“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, from our community, from each one of the Town Board members, for what you did … in fast-acting…selfless reaction time, with humility, and with kindness,” Halpin said. “Your regard for everyone else around you will forever be appreciated,” he said, adding “I hope for the remainder of your days you never buy a cup of coffee in Riverhead again.”