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Police chase ends in death

BY CHRISTINE ARMARIO | christine.armario@newsday.com

10:41 PM EDT, May 8, 2008

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A Riverhead man high on drugs who was fleeing from Suffolk police ran a red light Thursday and crashed into another vehicle, killing a father of three, authorities said.

The crash marked the third time a civilian was killed as Suffolk police chased a suspect since December 2006, when a Farmingdale man was killed by a suspected drug dealer who crashed into his house after a brief pursuit.

Police said a Sixth Precinct officer had just started pursuit Thursday afternoon in Farmingville when an SUV driven by John Licausi, 48, of Riverhead, struck a 1995 Toyota Camry that had the green light -- sending it careening into the air and crashing into a tree.

First responders began CPR on the Camry's driver, Scott Foster, 46, of Manorville, and took him to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center, where he died 37 minutes later.

Licausi was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of drugs, reckless endangerment, unlawfully fleeing a police officer and assault, witnesses and police said. He was uninjured.

Police said Officer Michael Bogliole was was about a half-block behind Licausi with his lights and siren on when the crash happened. Police said the pursuit lasted just two minutes and .72 miles.

"He wasn't really following him," Sixth Squad Det. Sgt. Frank Stewart said. "He was trying to catch up to him."

Following the Farmingdale crash in 2006, and a second incident in July last year, in which an officer chasing a reckless motorcyclist in Mount Sinai struck and killed a 27-year-old driver, the department issued a directive to more clearly define department policy on pursuits.

Officers are advised to continually question the seriousness of the violation, and specific instructions are given in regards to notifying a supervisor and activating emergency equipment. Suffolk police said Bogliole had notified dispatch that he was following a suspect, but a supervisor had not yet gotten on the radio to monitor it.

Asked whether the Police Department had changed its policy after the previous deaths, and whether they were considering any changes in light of Thursday's crash, Suffolk Police Commissioner Richard Dormer issued a statement in which he expressed condolences to the Foster family.

"Our preliminary investigation indicates that the officers involved were acting within department policy and procedures," he said in the statement. "As we do with any fatal crash, we are continuing to thoroughly investigate the circumstances of this incident."

On Thursday, police were called to Mount McKinley Avenue and Granny Road in Farmingville at 11:46 a.m. by a landscaper who said Licausi, who he said had stolen equipment from him two days before, was trying to sell him other equipment.

The landscaper, Keith Corr, told Licausi that he needed to consult with his wife but called police instead, Stewart said.

When Bogliole arrived, Licausi went with the officer into his patrol car, but then got out and ran back to his car. Bogliole tried to pull Licausi from his car, but Licausi drove off, knocking over Bogliole, police said.

Licausi drove east on Granny Road and made a right turn onto Old Medford Avenue, where he ran a red light at the intersection with Horse Block Road, police said.

Witnesses said Licausi appeared to be going at least 70 mph when he struck Foster's eastbound Camry. A 2002 Toyota Matrix and a fourth vehicle were also hit.

The Matrix driver and police officer suffered minor injuries; the other motorist was unharmed, police said.

Licausi has previous convictions for crimes including resisting arrest, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, reckless endangerment, and criminal possession of a controlled substance, records show.

Staff writers Andrew Strickler and Mitchell Freedman contributed to this story.