LI CRIME BRIEFS

WYANDANCH / Police injured during arrest attempt

A Wyandanch man assaulted and injured two police officers who were trying to arrest him in connection with a June stabbing, police said.

One of the officers suffered a possible concussion in the Sunday morning scuffle, Suffolk police said. The other officer suffered injuries to his hand and knee, police said. The encounter occurred at 7:07 a.m. in Wyandanch, police said, as officers tried to arrest Christopher Brooks, 38.

A 911 caller reported Brooks was at a home on North 16th Street, but Brooks fled when officers arrived, police said. He was stopped a short time later on Merritt Avenue at North 21st Street, police said, but "violently resisted arrest," kicking and punching one officer he had thrown to the ground and, once handcuffed, head-butting another officer.

The officers were taken to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip. Police said both were treated and released. Brooks also was taken to Good Samaritan, where he was treated for "injuries sustained during the altercation with officers," police said.

Police said Brooks was charged with two counts of second-degree assault in the stabbing, as well as two counts of second-degree assault for assaulting the officers. He also was charged with resisting arrest, violation of a parole warrant, as well as third-degree assault and fourth-degree criminal mischief -- both of those on an outstanding warrant.

Brooks was arraigned Monday in First District Court in Central Islip and ordered held without bail. His next court appearance was set for Friday.

-- JOHN VALENTI

DIX HILLS / Cops: Car chase began with phone

A motorist fleeing from police on the Northern State Parkway in Dix Hills Monday over a cellphone use violation crashed into a vehicle with three occupants, and then continued on until crashing into a tree, State Police said.

The driver of the fleeing vehicle was injured, police said. He was airlifted to Stony Brook University Medical Center for treatment of nonlife-threatening injuries. His name was not released. None of the three in the other vehicle were injured, police said.

The chase began at the parkway's westbound Commack Road exit about 5 p.m., police said, when a State Police car tried to pull over the suspect's vehicle. After failing to stop, and leaving the parkway on to Commack Road, police said, the suspect struck the other vehicle. The motorist drove on until he crashed into a tree near the intersection of Vanderbilt Parkway and McCulloch Drive a short distance away, police said.

-- BILL MASON