Crime and courts briefs

HEMPSTEAD

Cops: Driver high during crash

A Merrick man was high on drugs Tuesday when he drove his sport utility vehicle across the center median on Ocean Parkway, west of Tobay Beach, and crashed head-on into a car, seriously injuring its driver, State Police said.

Cody Becker, 19, is charged with first-degree reckless endangerment and second-degree vehicular assault -- both felonies -- as well as driving while impaired by drugs and unlawful possession of marijuana, police said.

He was arraigned Wednesday and held on a bail of $2,000 cash or $4,000 bond.

Becker was driving west on Ocean Parkway, east of the Jones Beach Tower, at about 8:13 p.m. when his GMC Denali "crossed over the center median into the eastbound lanes" and struck a Honda, according to a news release.

The driver of the Honda, Yuk Sung, 62, of Oak Beach, was airlifted to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow with serious injuries.

Becker also was taken to NUMC where he was treated for minor injuries and released. A passenger traveling in Becker's vehicle was not injured, police said.

NASSAU COUNTY

Man charged in three burglaries

A 26-year-old Brooklyn man was arrested Tuesday and charged with three November burglaries in Valley Stream and Elmont after fingerprints left at the crime scenes tied him to the break-ins, police said.

Tyrone McCalla, of 1356 Pacific St., was arrested at Queens County Criminal Court by Nassau County police Bureau of Special Operations officers. He was charged with three counts of second-degree burglary. It was not immediately clear why McCalla was in court. Court records for McCalla were not available.

Police said McCalla was tied to the burglaries in Valley Stream and Elmont after he was "identified by latent fingerprints" recovered at the scenes. Police said that in two of the break-ins -- on Nov. 12 and Nov. 22 -- McCalla was confronted by a resident and fled without proceeds.

Police said the first break-in took place at 12:40 p.m. Nov. 12 on Rosedale Road in Valley Stream. McCalla gained entry by "prying a side door lock," police said, then "ransacked the dwelling" until he was interrupted by a resident. He fled without taking anything, police said.

The second burglary occurred about 11 a.m. Nov. 13 on Circle Drive North in Elmont, police said. In that case, police said, McCalla entered the home through a rear first-floor window -- and, once inside, stole cash and jewelry.

The third break-in took place at a home on Heatherfield Road in Valley Stream at 11:10 a.m. Nov. 22, police said. McCalla was "confronted" inside the home by a resident -- and fled without proceeds, police said.

McCalla was arraigned Wednesday in First District Court in Hempstead, where he was ordered held on $50,000 bond, $25,000 bail. He is due back in court Friday.