Cops: Car chase preceded hit-run of boy on bicycle

The Medford man charged with running down a boy riding a bike in Bellport earlier led an officer on a high-speed chase and ran a car off the road, Suffolk police said.

Roberto Fuentes remained in the Riverhead jail Monday after his arrest Saturday following a 70-minute chase and search during which a boy was dragged underneath a pickup truck, police said.

The chain of events began about 8:15 p.m. Saturday as a Fifth Precinct officer responded to the East Patchogue home of Fuentes' ex-girlfriend, who'd reported to a 911 operator that he'd thrown a beer bottle at her and was violating an order of protection, police said.

As an officer arrived at the house, Fuentes, 32, climbed into his truck and raced away, with the officer in pursuit, according to Det. Sgt. Bryan McMenemy.

During the chase through East Patchogue, Fuentes exceeded the speed limit and drove against traffic, police said. At one point, a driver veered off the road to avoid Fuentes, McMenemy said.

Fuentes was not in sight of the officers when the pursuit was called off about two minutes later due to safety concerns, police said. Officers were still looking for the white pickup when a 911 call at 8:38 p.m. reported that a truck had run a stop sign at Patchogue and Post avenues, and collided with a car.

Witnesses to the crash described Fuentes' 2000 Chevrolet truck jumping a curb and hitting a 9-year-old boy on a bike on the sidewalk, dragging him a short distance before the truck stopped, police said. Fuentes then ran from the vehicle, witnesses said.

Police said the boy, whose name was not released, lost several teeth and suffered a fractured jaw and head injuries. He remained in serious condition late Sunday at Stony Brook University Medical Center. An update on his condition was not available Monday.

The order of protection stemmed from Fuentes' arrest in March for misdemeanor aggravated harassment, according to online court records.

Fuentes faces charges including aggravated vehicular assault, unlawful fleeing, and drunken driving. Fuentes pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Sunday and remained Monday at the Riverhead jail, where he was being held on $125,000 bail.