Police: Farmingdale slashing victim, officer, pedestrian hurt in crash

A man was slashed in the neck at or near a downtown Farmingdale hookah bar early Saturday, and then he and a police officer trying to help him were struck by a minivan, Nassau County police said.

The slashing victim was in critical but stable condition at a hospital and the officer had injuries that were not life-threatening and was treated and released, police spokesman Det. Lt. Richard LeBrun said. The minivan also struck a parked car, which spun and hit a female pedestrian, causing injuries described as not life-threatening, police said.

Police were called to a "disturbance" at the Mystique Gardens hookah bar on Conklin Street about 2:45 a.m. and found a man who had been slashed in the neck during a fight involving  several people, police said.

“There were people standing outside the lounge and police noticed the man had an injury,” another police spokesman said.

He was bleeding from the face and neck area, LeBrun said. When officers came over, the man ran into a municipal parking lot, where he collapsed.

Officers were helping the man in the parking lot when a white late-model Dodge minivan about 150 feet away struck a parked black 2000 Nissan, causing it to spin and hit the woman standing nearby, police said. 

The minivan then struck one of the police officers and the man with the neck wound as he lay on the ground, police said. The minivan didn't stop and continued north out of the lot. Another officer was just able evade it, LeBrun said.

Three other victims were found at a hospital after an investigation, police said. One was also slashed but the injury was "not serious," and the other two had bruises, a police spokesman said. They were all treated and released, he said.

 Police are investigating whether the driver of the minivan was involved in the fight and whether the slashing occurred inside or outside the hookah bar, LeBrun said.

On Saturday morning, a black Nissan Maxima was stopped at an angle in a lane of the parking lot, with two police vehicles nearby. The rear corner and bumper of the driver’s side were smashed in. A pair of powder-blue high-heeled shoes lay outside the rear driver’s side door.

A woman who walked in and out of the hookah bar declined to comment.

Police are searching for the minivan, LeBrun said. Anyone with information should call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 800-244-8477. Callers will remain anonymous.