Cops: Man arrested in attack on off-duty officer

A Staten Island man was arrested after he attacked an off-duty police officer whose car he hit in Seaford on Friday night, then fled, police said.

John J. Giordonello, 41, of 11 O'Gorman Ave., was charged with second-degree assault and reckless endangerment following the incident on Sunrise Highway at 9:26 p.m., police said.

Giordonello was ordered held on $10,000 bond, or $5,000 cash, at his arraignment Saturday in First District Court in Hempstead. He is scheduled to return to court Tuesday.

Nassau County police said the initial accident took place at the intersection of Jackson Avenue, when Giordonello, driving a 2005 Ford Crown Victoria, struck a car from behind that was being driven by an off-duty NYPD officer.

Police said that as the victim attempted to exchange information, Giordonello punched him in the face, dragged the victim through a nearby gas station as the officer attempted to subdue him, then fled in his car.

Using a canine tracker, police said officers later located Giordonello hiding in the front yard of a home on Gilmartin Lane -- and arrested him.