Jeffrey Fairweather, of Elmont, charged with assault for allegedly crashing into unmarked Suffolk police car

A Nassau County man was arraigned on assault charges Thursday for allegedly crashing his vehicle into an unmarked police car while attempting to flee a Medford car dealership where he was caught stripping auto parts last month, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said.

Jeffrey Fairweather, 43, of Elmont, pleaded not guilty to a grand jury indictment charging him with two counts of second-degree assault, criminal mischief and grand larceny, according to a news release. Acting State Supreme Court Justice Richard Horowitz set bail at $50,000 cash or $100,000 bond, prosecutors said.

"Our police officers risk their lives every day to protect the community, and this defendant allegedly chose to endanger them rather than face the consequences of his actions," District Attorney Ray Tierney said in a statement. "He now faces serious violent felony charges for allegedly injuring the very people who put themselves in harm’s way to keep Suffolk County safe."

Prosecutors said detectives with the Suffolk County Police Property and Auto Crime Unit were conducting surveillance at the Route 112 dealership Sept. 2 when Fairweather was spotted entering and then leaving the lot carrying a bumper, two headlights and a front grille he allegedly stripped from a 2023 Hyundai Palisade. Fairweather ignored the investigators when they attempted to stop him, instead getting into his vehicle and crashing head-on with the police car "at high speeds," according to the news release.

Fairweather then fled the scene on foot but was spotted by police near a storage facility in Holbrook two hours later, prosecutors said. He again led police on a foot chase but was apprehended a short time later.

Prosecutors said a detective at the scene of the dealership suffered neck, back, and foot injuries in the collision and an officer in Holbrook injured his knees and sustained a gash to his elbow, which required several stitches, after he fell to the ground during the pursuit.

Fairweather is due back in court Nov. 13, prosecutors said.

"At this preliminary stage, we look forward to thoroughly analyzing the evidence against my client," defense attorney Sean Dixon said following Thursday’s arraignment. "We remain confident that he will be vindicated of the charges contained in the indictment."

This case is being prosecuted by assistant district attorneys Patrick Waters and Jim Bartens, of the Financial Crimes Bureau, the district attorney’s office said.

By Grant Parpan

grant.parpan@newsday.com@GrantParpan

Grant Parpan covers Suffolk County courts and federal courts for Newsday. A Long Island native, he joined Newsday in 2022.