Police: Man charged with striking Nassau cop after December stop

A motorist accused of striking a police officer while fleeing a traffic stop in December was arrested and charged 251 days later, on Wednesday afternoon, according to the Nassau County Police Department.

Since the incident, the officer has been out of work and undergone four surgeries, according to a news release announcing the motorist's arrest.

The traffic stop was Dec. 9 at about 3:40 p.m. when cops from the Bureau of Special Operations saw the motorist, later identified as Ephrem Jusino, 40, allegedly commit “multiple traffic infractions” while driving a black Nissan Altima with Pennsylvania plates on Old Country Road in Hicksville at Duffy Avenue. The release did not provide the traffic infractions.

The vehicle was stopped, and police demanded the motorist’s driver’s license and the vehicle’s registration, but the motorist refused to provide them, the release said.

“When prompted again for his identification, the driver fled in his vehicle at a high rate of speed, striking the Officer in the foot and hand and proceeded to drag the officer several feet before leaving the scene,” the release said.

On Wednesday, Jusino was located and arrested, according to the release, which did not say what led to Jusino being located.

He’s been charged with assault to a police officer causing serious physical injury, leaving the scene of an incident with serious injury, reckless driving, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and traffic infractions, according to the release, which said he’s to be arraigned Thursday at First District Court in Hempstead. The injured officer's name or injuries haven't been disclosed.

Jusino was in police custody Wednesday, and no attorney for him could be located for comment.

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.