Centereach dad tried to sell crack at playground with toddler, police say

A 25-year-old man was arrested on drug and other charges after he tried to sell crack on an elementary school playground in Centereach with his 2-year-old daughter in tow, Suffolk police said.

Chaleek Williams, of North Washington Avenue in Centereach, was taken into custody about 4 p.m. Wednesday by detectives during an investigation at Oxhead Road Elementary School, police said. Williams "was also in possession of a quantity of MDMA," more commonly known as Ecstasy or Molly, and "became combative" during the arrest and had to be restrained, police said. Williams was held overnight in the Third Precinct.

He faces charges of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, fourth-degree criminal possession of narcotics, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest and endangering the welfare of a child. Arraignment information was not available Thursday and it remained unclear if Williams had an attorney.

Police said the child was unharmed and was released to the custody of a family member.

CORRECTION: Chaleek Williams was held overnight in the Third Precinct. Due to incorrect information from Suffolk police the incorrect precinct was reported in an earlier version of this story.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

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.”