Man arrested after crashing into police in Island Park, cops say
A damaged Nassau County police vehicle at the scene in Island Park on Wednesday. Credit: Jim Staubitser
A homeless man in a stolen car struck Nassau police cruisers, parked vehicles and a fence while fleeing officers in Island Park before he was arrested and charged with multiple crimes, authorities said.
Patrick Hayes, 49, faces grand larceny, assault and other charges after a Nassau police officer attempted to pull him over Wednesday on Austin Boulevard as he drove a black 2002 Chevy, police said Thursday.
Hayes fled in the Chevy and continued south on Industrial Place and struck a fence as the officer gave chase, police said, then reversed the car and “deliberately” hit the patrol car “multiple” times.
By this time, other police officers had joined in the pursuit, police said.
“In an attempt to escape, the defendant rammed multiple parked cars, police vehicles and structures before getting stuck in a fence in front of 4276 Industrial Place,” Nassau police said a news release.
Initially, Hayes “violently” resisted officers attempting to take him into custody just before noon Wednesday, police said.
Earlier in Queens, Hayes had fled NYPD officers in the Chevy, which had been reported stolen, the NYPD said.
The vehicle that crashed had been reported stolen by the NYPD, police said. Credit: Jim Staubitser
Hayes was taken to a hospital for treatment and evaluation, police said. He remained hospitalized Thursday morning.
One police officer who suffered minor injuries was treated at a hospital Wednesday and released, police said. Two officers were exposed to blood and a third to pepper spray.
Hayes was charged with third-degree unlawful fleeing, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, resisting arrest, second-degree obstructing governmental administration, five counts of first-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree assault, third-degree grand larceny, third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, 12 counts of second-degree criminal mischief, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and multiple traffic violations.
Police said Hayes will be arraigned after he is released from the hospital. No defense attorney information was available.
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