SUSPECT CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A WESTCHESTER COUNTY POLICE OFFICER.
9,000 glassine envelopes containing heroin seized.
(Hawthorne, N.Y. ) -- A Westchester County police officer was injured on the Hutchinson River Parkway today when a motorist drove off at high speed as the officer was attempting to take him into custody.
The officer was attempting to remove the driver of a Honda Accord from the vehicle about 11:30 a.m. and was leaning inside the car when it sped off. The officer was able to climb inside to avoid being dragged and he struggled with the suspect as the vehicle reached speeds of up to 60 mph.
The driver’s front door remained open during the harrowing incident. The driver swerved across both lanes of the highway and on to the shoulder, accelerating and then braking hard, in an apparent effort to throw the officer from the car.
The struggle continued for three-quarters of a mile, when the officer was able to bring the car to a halt. The suspect vehicle was then boxed in by a county police patrol car as the driver attempted to take off again.
“The actions of this driver put our officer in grave danger,” Commissioner Thomas A. Gleason said. “It is fortunate that he was not seriously injured or killed.”
The suspect’s identity is still being verified and will be released in the morning. He is believed to be a Massachusetts man in his 20s.
Multiple felony charges are pending, including Attempted Murder of a Police Officer, Assault and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Degree.
The incident began when the officer pulled over the Honda for a traffic violation on the northbound Hutch at North Street in New Rochelle. After determining that the driver did not have a valid license, the officer asked the man to step out of the car. The driver initially complied but then jumped back into the Honda. The officer attempted to prevent him from fleeing.
The county officer, who is not being identified at this time, was taken to Phelps Memorial Hospital in Sleepy Hollow with an injury to one of his hands and arm. He was treated and released. The suspect was taken to the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, where he was also treated and released.
Following the incident, the Honda was impounded and towed back to County Police headquarters in Hawthorne. The 9,000 glassine envelopes of heroin were discovered inside the car.
The suspect will be held overnight at headquarters pending arraignment tomorrow in New Rochelle City Court.
MASSACHUSETTS MAN ARRAIGNED ON ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A POLICE OFFICER AND OTHER FELONY CHARGES.
Remanded without bail to the Westchester County Jail in Valhalla.
The suspect charged in the attempted murder of a Westchester County Police Officer was remanded to the Westchester County Jail this afternoon following his arraignment in New Rochelle City Court.
Kevin Santos, 22, of Springfield, Mass., was ordered held without bail at his arraignment on multiple felony charges, including: Attempted Murder of a Police Officer, Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Degree and 3rd Degree (Intent to Sell) and Reckless Endangerment 1st Degree. He is due back in city court on Monday.
Santos was arrested Monday after he drove off at high speed as a County police officer was partially inside his car and attempting to take him into custody. The officer was able to climb inside Santos’ Honda Accord to avoid being dragged and a struggle occurred as the vehicle reached speeds of up to 60 mph.
The driver’s front door remained open during the harrowing incident. Santos is accused of swerving across both lanes of the highway and on to the shoulder, accelerating and then braking hard, in an apparent effort to eject the officer from the car.
The struggle continued for three-quarters of a mile, when the officer was able to bring the car to a halt. The suspect vehicle was then boxed in by a county police patrol car as the driver attempted to take off again.
Following the incident, the Honda was impounded and towed back to county police headquarters in Hawthorne, where 9,000 glassine envelopes of heroin were discovered inside the car. The narcotics were found in a bag on the floor of the front passenger side of the car.
“The actions of this driver put our officer in grave danger,” Commissioner Thomas A. Gleason said. “It is fortunate that he was not seriously injured or killed.”
The incident began about 11:30 a.m. Monday when the officer pulled over the Honda for a traffic violation on the northbound Hutch at North Avenue in New Rochelle. After determining that the driver did not have a valid license, the officer asked him to step out of the car. The driver initially complied but then jumped back into the Honda and the struggle ensued.
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment