Charges for man who led police on chase

A Center Moriches man faces charges of driving under the influence of drugs, assault and resisting arrest after leading police on a short chase in which his pickup struck two other cars, including a patrol car, Suffolk County police said.

A patrol car tried to stop a 2008 Dodge Dakota driven by George Athanasopoulos, 27, for a routine traffic stop on Moriches Middle Island Road in Manorville on Thursday at about 9:30 a.m., police said.

But Athanasopoulos did not stop, police said, and continued to elude police for 10 to 15 minutes.

Police said the pursuit of the pickup was not constant, but called off several times until the suspect's truck hit another car near Old Country Road in Eastport. After driving off from that accident, the truck then hit a police cruiser about 100 yards from the first crash.

Athanasopoulos then tried to run off, but was arrested by police.

Police said two people in the first car and two police officers were injured in the crashes. None of the injures were life-threatening.

The two people in the car were taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead. The two officers were taken to Stony Brook University Medical Center.

Athanasopoulos, of 15 Melissa Path, is charged with assault, criminal mischief, unlawful fleeing in a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, leaving the scene and driving under the influence of drugs.

He is scheduled to be arraigned Friday at First District Court in Central Islip.