Cops: Dad flees crash site, leaves kids behind

A Central Islip man crashed his car and tried to elude police on foot, leaving his two young children behind, Suffolk County police said Saturday.

The kids were not in car seats but were not injured, police said.

Cornell James, 25, was arraigned on felony charges Saturday in First District Court in Central Islip, where Judge Jennifer Henry termed the incident "serious." He is charged with fleeing police, two counts of child endangerment, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and possession of a controlled substance.

James said little at his initial court appearance other than to acknowledge that he provided support for his children.

Third Precinct officers said they tried to pull over James for erratic driving at 5:40 p.m. Friday as he headed west on Smith Street near Wilson Boulevard in Central Islip in a Nissan Altima.

He refused to stop and officers started a pursuit, with James driving in excess of 70 mph in a 30 mph zone, police said. He violated a number of traffic rules, including running several stop signs, police said.

The chase lasted only a couple of minutes as James knocked over a stop sign and crashed through a fence in the 200 block of Leaf Avenue, police said. He jumped out of the car and fled. Officers caught him in the backyard of a Cone Avenue residence, police said.

James' children, ages 1 and 6, were released to the custody of their grandmother. The Nissan was seized by police.

Police said they found a small quantity of heroin hidden in the front passenger-side floorboard.

According to the arrest report, James asked the arresting officers, "You're not gonna also charge me with that heroin are ya?"

James said he ran from police because he didn't have a valid driver's license, according to the report. His license has been suspended or revoked at least three times, most recently in November, records show. He has previous convictions for assault, drug possession, resisting arrest, reckless driving and eluding police.