An East Meadow man was arrested Friday after allegedly striking and dragging a police officer with his car in Melville and then leading police on a 14-mile car chase, which injured another officer, Suffolk County police said.
Robert Stein, 54, was stopped around 10 a.m. on Friday by a Suffolk County police officer at the Park and Ride facility off the Long Island Expressway near Exit 49. His vehicle matched a description of one wanted for stealing fuel from gas stations, police said. As Officer John McAleavey approached the vehicle to ask for his driver’s license, cops allege Stein hit gas pedal and struck the officer with his car. The officer’s gun belt became caught on the side view mirror and Stein drove, dragging the cop nearly 200 yards, police said.
Investigators said Stein sped down two lanes of the parking lot while the officer held onto the car’s hood before the car began to slow down to enter the service road of the westbound Long Island Expressway. Once the vehicle slowed, McAleavey was able to dislodge his equipment belt and free himself. He was taken to Huntington Hospital to be treated for his injuries. His condition was not immediately known.
Stein fled the scene, leading Suffolk police and New York State troopers on a car chase along the Long Island Expressway, Northern State Parkway and then onto the streets of Mineola. He was eventually apprehended after driving down East Second Street in Mineola, which is a dead end.
A New York State Trooper responding to assist the other officers in the pursuit was also injured after their marked patrol vehicle became involved in a crash at the corner of Jericho Turnpike and Nassau Boulevard in Garden City Park, according to police.
Shackled and flanked by two officers, Stein said nothing as he was led from a Third Precinct holding cell to his arraignment in Central Islip on Saturday morning. He has been charged with assaulting a police officer, reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of an accident with injury, petit larceny and unlawful fleeing of a police officer.
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