Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. today announced the indictment of MOHAMED ALAOUIE, 44, for injuring nine people by recklessly driving through crowded midtown sidewalks and streets shortly after the ball drop on New Year’s Day. ALAOUIE is also charged with assaulting his girlfriend immediately prior to the incident. He was charged yesterday in a New York Supreme Court indictment with Assault in the First Degree, Aggravated Vehicular Assault, Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, among other charges. [1]

“This defendant allegedly careened through packed sidewalks and streets during the busiest time of the year in midtown. His recklessness endangered the lives of countless New Yorkers and visitors who were ringing in the New Year,” said District Attorney Bragg. “I hope the victims can fully recover from their injuries and thank the police officers who were on the scene to apprehend this individual.”

According to court documents and statements made on the record, ALAOUIE and his girlfriend were sitting in her car at the corner of West 33rd Street and Seventh Avenue after spending time at a bar earlier in the evening. At approximately 1:30 a.m., a bystander notified a police officer that ALAOUIE was assaulting a woman inside the vehicle. 

The police officer instructed ALAOUIE to put his car, a black Mercedes, in park. He instead reversed the car and drove onto the sidewalk of West 33rd Street which was full of dozens of people. He struck one victim before reentering the roadway and turning north onto Seventh Avenue, which runs southbound.

He drove one block against traffic before turning onto West 34th Street. At this point, several police officers were in pursuit of his vehicle on foot. ALAOUIE got stuck in traffic on West 34th Street and rammed into cars in front of and behind him. He then accelerated and struck a food cart on the sidewalk, which hit three pedestrians and pinned two underneath. ALAOUIE drove onto the sidewalk and sped westbound on 34th Street, crossing Eighth Avenue and eventually returning to the roadway.

Between Eighth and Ninth Avenues, ALAOUIE hit several other vehicles, injuring three more individuals and one police officer who was on foot trying to stop him.  ALAOUIE’s vehicle finally broke down after crashing into another car and police were able to arrest him. Sixteen glassines of cocaine were recovered at the scene and two were found in his pants the next day at the hospital.

ALAOUIE’s girlfriend was visibly injured when she jumped out of the car during his spree. One of the victims was concussed, and another remains in constant pain from injuries to their elbow joint. One of the victims pinned under the food cart suffered skin and tissue tears from metal on the cart and needs physical therapy to be able to walk without assistance.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant D.A.s Jeannie Campbell-Urban and Michael Yetter, under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Courtney Razner, Jonathon Junig and Lisa Del Pizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Analyst Leila Jiadi is also assisting with the case.

D.A. Bragg thanked Officer Vincent Martinez of the Midtown South Precinct and the entire Midtown South Precinct, including the detective squad.

Defendant Information:
Mohamed Alaouie
Fort Lee, New Jersey

Charged:

• Assault in the First Degree, a class B felony, six counts
• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a class B felony, one count
• Aggravated Vehicular Assault, a class C felony, one count
• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree, a class C felony, one count
• Vehicular Assault in the First Degree, a class D felony, one count
• Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony, twelve counts
• Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, a class D felony, one count
• Vehicular Assault in the Second Degree, a class E felony, three counts
• Assault in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor, one count
• Criminal Obstruction of Breathing or Blood Circulation, a class A misdemeanor, one count

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[1]   The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.