Police Trace Late-Night Loud Music to Car with Roof-Mounted Speakers Across the Hudson

The Croton Board of Trustees met briefly June 9 for a police update on the source of loud music that has been vibrating homes in the village during late-night hours over the past several weekends.

Police Chief John Nikitopoulos, joined by officer Nicholas DiTomasso, told the board that the department traced the noise to a vehicle with a large speaker mounted on its roof, driven to a state park across the Hudson River in Rockland County. "Over the past several weeks, we've been getting complaints about loud music, which has been driving vibrating people's houses and stuff like that," {{quote:43}} Nikitopoulos said. "We have been trying to locate the source." {{quote:43}} At first, police suspected the music was coming from boats on the river. The department deployed its boat last Friday night from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., but the music started at 4 a.m., after the boat had docked. A tip from a resident who photographed the car with its rooftop speaker ultimately cracked the case. Nikitopoulos said the department's detective division worked to identify the owner, and Haverstraw police were asked to make contact. The vehicle's owner lives in Haverstraw and apparently drives to the state park to play music. Nikitopoulos said the department determined it can issue a disorderly conduct summons and bring the case to village court if the noise continues, even though the source is across the river.

The chief said the rooftop speaker, while sizable, is relatively small compared to others in what appears to be a subculture of vehicles modified for sound competitions. "Detective DiTomasso has shown me some photos of some of the speakers today," {{quote:331}} Nikitopoulos said. "What's on that car is small compared to what's on other ones." {{quote:331}} Trustee Nora Nicholson asked whether the behavior appeared to be an individual's hobby or part of an organized activity. A staff member present said social media posts indicated a group of about 15 or more vehicles that participate in parades and competitions to see whose system can outplay the others, and that NYPD seized eight such vehicles about a year or two ago. Deputy Mayor Len Simon called the detective work "amazing" and quipped that the vehicle "honestly looked like a photoshopped fake car, but it was real." {{quote:319}} Nikitopoulos said the detective division will be on call over the weekend and will cross the river in vehicles if State Park Police are unable to locate the car. The department has also shared the contact information with its patrol force and sergeants. "Hopefully, this will be the end of our issues," {{quote:67}} the chief said. "But if it continues, detective Fielding and detective DiTomasso will be notified, and they'll go over and see if they can do something." {{quote:210}}

Village Manager Bryan Healy said the village would issue a press release about the findings. Nicholson noted that an officer at Saturday's commissioning day ceremony had already pointed across the river to Rockland, saying that was likely where the music was coming from. The board then entered executive session to discuss a personnel matter.