Alcohol and Fireworks Involved in West Hempstead Crash, 4 Arrested [Updated]

UPDATED: April 4, 2012 at 12:31 a.m.

Four men, including two from West Hempstead, were arrested after an incident involving fireworks in Elmont eventually ended in a Monday morning car crash in West Hempstead.

According to Nassau County detectives, around 2:05 a.m. on Monday, a homeowner on Hunnewell Avenue in Elmont contacted police after he heard an explosion outside his home and discovered that his detached mailbox had been destroyed, along with the various pieces of mail inside, by fireworks.

A stand alone United States Postal Mailbox located at Madison Street and Cross Street in Elmont was also damaged by fireworks at 5:15 a.m., police said.

Daniel Aviles, 21, of Farmingdale, John Pinzon, 20, of West Hempstead and Jacob Guerrero III, 21, of West Hempstead, were all arrested Monday in connection with the incidents involving fireworks in Elmont, police said. A fourth individual, Jorge Martinez, 21, of Deer Park, was arrested Tuesday night in Westbury.

According to police, the four defendants also placed a third explosive at a mail box on Clement Avenue in Elmont. They are being charged with three counts each of criminal mischief in the first degree.

Additionally, at 8:27 a.m. Monday morning, Fifth Precinct police officers located Aviles recklessly operating a Ford SUV eastbound on Hawthorne Avenue in West Hempstead, police said.

According to police, Aviles, along with passengers Pinzon, Guerrero and Martinez, were screaming out of the windows, swerving in the roadway and tailgating a car in front of them.

After disobeying a lawful order to pull over, Aviles continued at a high rate of speed and lost control of the SUV causing the vehicle to overturn and strike a tree in front of 615 Gaynor Place, police said.

As officers helped the occupants from the car, a strong smell of alcoholic beverage emanated from the defendants and the vehicle, police said. Multiple alcoholic beverages were found inside the vehicle.

All four occupants were taken to a local hospital for precautionary reasons where they were checked and released. Aviles was placed into police custody. Pinzon and Guerrero were arrested later in the day at their residences.  

Aviles is additionally being charged with aggravated unlicensed in the first degree (DWI), unlawful fleeing of a police officer in the third degree, reckless driving, DWI, aggravated unlicensed operator vehicle in the third degree and multiple vehicle traffic law violations.

Aviles, Pinzon and Guerrero were scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday at First District Court in Hempstead. Martinez will be arraigned Wednesday.