Cops: Two charged in Valley Stream after driver resists, flees on foot

Two men face multiple charges after a Saturday evening traffic stop in Valley Stream led to a foot pursuit with the driver, who allegedly knocked one police officer to the ground and caused another to suffer a head injury, Nassau police said.

Nassau’s Criminal Intelligence Rapid Response Team pulled over a 2009 gray Honda traveling westbound on West Merrick Road about 7 p.m. Saturday because it had nontransparent window tints, according to police. During the stop, police found a Smith & Wesson handgun on the front passenger’s seat and arrested the passenger, Kai Williams, 24, of Valley Stream, on weapons charges, authorities said.

As officers attempted to take the driver, Shane Nicholas, 23, of Bay Shore, into custody, he pushed an officer’s hand away and fled on foot, police said. The officer “continued to effect the arrest” and Nicholas struck him in the head with his elbow knocking him to the ground, police said in a news release.

Nicholas continued to run and entered a random home, police said. Before he was taken into custody, Nicholas swung his arm at an officer causing him to strike his head against the wall, according to police.

Police said the officer suffered injuries to his right knee, head pain, dizziness and an injury to his ribs. He was taken to a hospital for treatment and evaluation.

Williams was charged with criminal possession of a firearm, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Nicholas was charged with second-degree assault, third-degree burglary, resisting arrest and second-degree obstruction government administration. Both were held at their arraignment in First District Court in Hempstead on bail of $150,000 bond or $75,000 cash.

By Vera Chinese

vera.chinese@newsday.com@VeraChinese

Vera Chinese joined Newsday in 2017 after working as an editor for the East End lifestyle publication northforker and a general assignment reporter for the New York Daily News.