EAST FISHKILL – A 46-year-old alleged street race organizer has been charged with felony witness tampering after threatening a witness for the prosecution outside of the court on Friday, April 5, 2024.
Wappingers Falls resident Hamet Perez had been charged with organizing an illegal street race on Lime Kiln Road in 2022. At that race, a bystander was struck by one of the race vehicles, resulting in a traumatic brain injury and the loss of use of his legs. Perez, the DA’s office says, was the organizer and the man who, using a flashlight in place of a green flag, started the race, sending the cars flying down Lime Kiln Road, where the victim was struck. The two racers had also been charged for their roles in the incident. The two racers pled guilty to their charges and agreed to testify against Perez.
Perez was charged with the misdemeanor of illegal speed contest, which carries a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail if convicted.
A jury trial was commenced on Friday morning in the East Fishkill Justice Court, before Judge Brian Rudner. The jury had been picked and opening arguments were made by both the prosecution and the defense attorney before breaking for lunch.
At lunch, Perez approached one of the racers-turned-witnesses in the lobby of the court. He took pictures of the witness with his cell phone and posted the pictures on social media identifying the witness and encouraging people to physically harm him. He also made a phone call in which he was overheard telling a person the current location of the witness, and encouraging the person to physically assault the witness.
The witness reported the interaction to Senior Assistant Dutchess County DA Jennifer Fluck, who informed Judge Rudner. A juror also came forward and admitted to hearing the threats made by Perez. East Fishkill police were also notified of the tampering.
Judge Rudner declared a mistrial in the misdemeanor trial and the East Fishkill police arrested Perez on the felonies of witness tampering and intimidating a witness. He was arraigned and remanded to the Dutchess County Jail without bail, where he remains pending the next court date.
