Cops: Suspect caught with marijuana scuffles with police

A New Cassel man who was stopped because he was smoking a marijuana cigarette Monday faces assault and resisting arrest charges for scuffling with two officers after a short foot chase, Nassau County police said.

Bryan Smith, 47, of 172 Rushmore St., was walking on Prospect Avenue at about 2:15 a.m. when two Third Precinct officers saw him smoking marijuana, police said. When the officers approached Smith, they told him to show his hands but he kept at least one hand behind his back, police said.

Smith then fled, police said, and officers followed him on foot. When police caught up, Smith struggled with them, resisted arrest and struck at least one officer, causing a head laceration.

The officer, who also hurt a hand, was treated at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola and released.

Smith was arrested and charged with assault, resisting arrest and criminal possession of marijuana, police said. He is scheduled to be arraigned Monday at First District Court in Hempstead.