Cops: Hempstead man arrested after fleeing police

A Hempstead man suspected of having a handgun drove away from a traffic stop early Thursday in Uniondale, then sideswiped a police car before being arrested on multiple charges, Nassau County police said.

Palmer Orton, 21, of 77 Terrace Ave., driving a 1996 Mitsubishi Galant, was pulled over on Princeton Street at about 1:36 a.m., police said.

Police said Orton had a brown-handled revolver tucked in his waistband and drove off with five passengers "in an attempt to avoid arrest."

Orton sideswiped a police car on a side street and then a parked car on Terrace Avenue, police said. The car came to a stop, and Orton and a male passenger got out and ran off, police said.

Orton was caught by police on Jackson Avenue and the other man escaped, police said. Police said the gun was not recovered and no injuries were reported.

A police spokeswoman Thursday could not say how far Orton drove before being arrested.

Police also said they found a controlled substance, believed to be the drug ecstasy, inside the Galant.

Police said four women passengers were arrested on charges of possession of a controlled substance. They are: Laqutter Madison, 28, of 731 Dale Pl., Uniondale; Dashante Sanders, 22, of 127 Terrace Ave.; Kiarra Bethea, 19, of 7 Manor Ave., Rockville Centre; and Elouise Hall, 23, of 32 Tennessee Ave., Hempstead.

Hall also gave police a false name when she was arrested and is charged with false impersonation, police said.

Police also said Hall was wanted on two outstanding warrants. They did not specify the charges in the outstanding warrants.

Orton is charged with criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a controlled substance, unlawful fleeing of a police officer and multiple traffic violations.

Each is scheduled for arraignment Thursday at First District Court in Hempstead.