Crime & Safety

UPDATE: East Meadow Man Arrested After Pursuit and Injuring Two Officers

Robert Stein was charged with second-degree assault of a police officer after an incident in Suffolk County, authorities said.

Robert Stein, 54, of East Meadow, was arrested on Jan. 25 in an incident that injured a police officer and led police on a pursuit into Nassau County, Suffolk County Police said.

According to an article on The Long Island Press.com, another officer who had joined in the pursuit, crashed during the chase at the corner of Jericho Turnpike and Nassau Boulevard in Garden City Park. The trooper was taken to Winthrop Hospital where he was treated and released for a head injury.

“We had two prior incidents of this individual getting away from police,” Second Squad Det. Sgt. Steven Bluethgen said.

Officers were on patrol at Exit 49 on the Long Island Expressway when they noticed a vehicle that was wanted in connection to prior petit larcenies of gasoline. Officers then approached the vehicle and asked Stein, for his driver's license, authorities said.

Stein then suddenly drove forward, hitting the officer with the side view mirror and the officer’s gun belt got caught on the mirror. He continued driving with the officer caught on the vehicle for approximately 200 yards before the officer was able to free himself, police said.

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The officer was treated at the hospital for lacerations and contusions.

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Stein then fled the scene and was pursued into Nassau County where he was eventually apprehended after driving down a dead end street in Mineola, authorities said.

According to police, Stein, whose last known address was in East Meadow, told officers that he is homeless.

He was charged second-degree assault of a police officer, first-degree endangerment,leaving the scene of an accident with an injury, two counts of petit larceny and three counts of third-degree unlawfully fleeing a police officer. 



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