Hempstead man forces girlfriend into his vehicle, crashes into gas station, police say

A Hempstead man was charged with unlawful imprisonment after he forced his former girlfriend into his vehicle, then later crashed it into a gas station in Roosevelt.

According to detectives, Tyler Gunter, 23, of 141 Parsons Dr., arrived at his former girlfriend's Delisle Avenue home at 3:05 a.m. and "engaged in an argument, which escalated to a physical confrontation."

Gunter forced the woman, 23, into his 2007 Hummer H3 and drove to his home, police said.

The victim was not injured and was able to escape and return to her house. While First Precinct officers were at her home, there was a call about an automobile accident at 3:48 a.m. in which a vehicle crashed into a gas station at 224 Nassau Rd. Gunter was found in the Hummer and was taken to a hospital in serious condition with major head trauma.

Gunter is charged with unlawful imprisonment in the first degree, police said and he will be arraigned when he is medically able.

Police said the bronze-colored Hummer had careened out of control, crashing into poles and pumps at the station, which was closed at the time.

A small fire broke out, but was quickly extinguished by the Roosevelt Fire Department.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”