Crime

Police: Man charged with drug possession, child endangerment after crashing with 4 boys in car

By John Valentijohn.valenti@newsday.com

A Middle Island man was arrested on drug possession and child endangerment charges after police said his car, with four young boys in it, crashed into an SUV in Coram.

Suffolk County police said Yonnel Ricketts, 30, was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, first-degree criminal contempt, four counts of endangering the welfare of a child and "numerous" summonses for violation of vehicle and traffic laws. He faces arraignment at a later date.

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A Middle Island man was arrested on drug possession and child endangerment charges after police said his car, with four young boys in it, crashed into an SUV in Coram.

Suffolk County police said Yonnel Ricketts, 30, was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, first-degree criminal contempt, four counts of endangering the welfare of a child and "numerous" summonses for violation of vehicle and traffic laws. He faces arraignment at a later date.

Police said the boys in the vehicle Sunday night were ages 12, 13, 14 and 15. Two were transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of minor injuries and released to a family member, police said. Two other boys were released to a family member at the scene, police said.

Police did not detail the relationship, if any, of Ricketts to the boys.

Police said Ricketts was driving a 2022 Dodge Challenger westbound on Middle Country Road near Country Club Drive when the car "veered into the center lane" and crashed into a 2014 Cadillac SUV just after 7:30 p.m. Sunday. The driver of the Cadillac, Estaban Lebron, 38, of Coram, was transported to Long Island Community Hospital in Patchogue and treated for minor injuries and released.

Additional details were not immediately available.

It was also not immediately clear if Ricketts was represented by counsel.

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”