Cops: Driver arrested after lengthy police pursuit

A Dix Hills man was arrested after leading state police troopers on a lengthy pursuit Tuesday night which began when he fled a checkpoint stop on the storm-damaged Ocean Parkway, police said.

Vincent Greco, 43, was charged with resisting arrest, second-degree reckless endangerment, third-degree fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle, and fourth-degree criminal mischief, police said.

Police said Greco, driving a 1999 black Cadillac, was stopped at the westbound Ocean Parkway checkpoint near Cedar Beach on Tuesday evening. The checkpoint was established after superstorm Sandy damaged the road on Oct. 29-30. Ocean Parkway is closed between Jones Beach and Cedar Beach, except to local traffic and local residents.

Police said that when troopers asked Greco for identification he instead drove off.

The pursuit went westbound on the Ocean Parkway to the northbound Wantagh Parkway and then to the eastbound Southern State Parkway, police said. Greco then got off and went south on Route 107, where, police said, he struck several cars and road signs.

Eventually, police said, Greco crashed the Cadillac into a tree. He was then arrested.

Arraignment details were not immediately available.

SEE PHOTOSAerial views of Sandy damage

Police said Greco was additionally charged with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle because of three prior license suspensions.