Cops: 3 arrests in Route 454 safety crackdown

Three people were arrested and many others issued summonses Thursday during a crackdown on unsafe and aggressive drivers along Route 454, Suffolk police said.

One driver tried to flee but was arrested after a brief chase when he got stuck in traffic, police said.

The effort to reduce crashes along the Route 454 corridor was mounted between Commack and Holbrook by the Fourth and Fifth precincts' COPE units, or Community Oriented Police Enforcement.

About 50 summonses were issued for traffic or vehicle violations, police said.

During the crackdown, Fourth Precinct COPE Officer Guy Gourlay tried to pull over a vehicle driven by Michael Russo, of Washington Avenue in Holtsville.

But Russo, 20, sped off, got stuck in traffic, then was caught by the officer. Russo was charged with third-degree unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, reckless driving, driving while ability impaired by drugs and criminal possession of marijuana.

Fifth Precinct COPE officers arrested Cory Law, 31, of Brentwood, for a warrant, and Kevin Mazerall, 22, of Center Moriches, for second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.