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More charges expected in fatal crash

BY LUIS PEREZ AND CHRISTINE ARMARIO | luis.perez@newsday.com christine.armario@newsday.com

12:30 PM EDT, May 9, 2008

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More charges are likely to be brought against a Riverhead man who led police on a chase in Farmingville -- crashing his car into a vehicle and killing a father of three, all while high on drugs, authorities said.

John Licausi, 48, was held on $250,000 cash bail at his arraignment Friday in Central Islip. He pleaded not guilty before First District Court Judge John Iliou to charges of second-degree assault, driving while under the influence of drugs, reckless endangerment and two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.

Scott Foster, 46, a salesman who lived with his wife and three sons in Manorville, was killed when Licausi's sport utility vehicle hit Foster's 1995 Toyota Camry at Old Medford Avenue and Horseblock Road Thursday afternoon.

Prosecutor Sharon Goldstein-Gitter said a grand jury will be convened to hear the case and additional charges most likely will be brought against Licausi in his next court appearance. Licausi's next court date is May 14.

At Friday's hearing, the judge suspended Licausi's driver's license, citing his refusal to take a Breathalyzer test after his arrest.

Goldstein-Gitter said that a drug recognition expert who interviewed Licausi after the crash determined he was high on drugs. She added that blood was also drawn at that time, and that the results of that exam are pending.

Licausi's arms appeared heavily bruised, apparently from injuries in the crash. His Legal Aid attorney, Lani Houston, told the judge that Licausi would need further medical attention.

The crash marked the third time a civilian has been 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 Licausi struck Foster's Camry that had the green light -- sending it airborne. It then hit into a tree.

First responders began CPR on Foster and took him to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital, where he died 37 minutes later.

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

After the Farmingdale crash in 2006, and a second incident in July last year, in which an officer chasing a reckless motorcyclist in Mount Sinai hit 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 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."

Thursday, police were called to Mount McKinley Avenue and Granny Road in Farmingville at 11:46 a.m. by a landscaper who said Licausi had stolen equipment from him two days before, and 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 ran back to his car. Bogliole tried to pull Licausi from his car, but Licausi drove off, knocking over Bogliole with his car door, police said.

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

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

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

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

Foster's wife of 24 years, Maureen, said that Foster was a salesman, but had just become certified as a nutritionist.

"That was his passion," she said Thursday night. "Sales was his job, and his passion was health and music."

The couple have three sons, ages 10, 17 and 18.

"He was such a good person. I guess you hear that a lot," she said. "But he always wanted to help people. It's a shame that he's gone, and there were so many people he could have helped -- all for machine parts."

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