Car-theft suspect caught after chase

A New Hyde Park man caught driving a stolen car Monday night did not pull over when a police officer tried to stop him, but instead tried to escape by weaving at high speed through Garden City Park backstreets, the police said.

It was around 4:30 p.m. Monday when Andrew Rodriguez, 25, was spotted in a 2005 Honda CRV that had been reported stolen last week in New York City, the police said.

After he saw Rodriguez at the wheel of the stolen car headed north on Nassau Boulevard in Garden City Park, Third Precinct Police Officer James Duigan turned on his flashing lights to pull the car over.

But instead Rodriguez accelerated and made several turns down backstreets in an attempt to evade the officer, the police said.

Rodriguez crossed over double yellow lines and drove the car at high speeds into oncoming traffic before colliding with a 2007 Honda Element that was stopped at a red light at Denton and Marcus Avenues in New Hyde Park, the police said.

Rodriguez then got out of the car and ran away, pursued by Third Precinct officers who caught him hiding in a shed behind 18 Howard Ave. in New Hyde Park.

The operator of the Honda, whose neck, back and left leg were injured, was taken to Winthrop University Hospital for treatment.

Rodriguez, of 77-11 270th St. in New Hyde Park, was charged with criminal possession of stolen property, reckless driving, unlawful fleeing of a police officer, leaving the scene of an accident with personal injury, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and numerous vehicle and traffic violations. He also faces two counts of petit larceny for unrelated incidents.

Rodriguez was scheduled for arraignment at First District Court, Hempstead, on Tuesday.

By BY JOSEPH MALLIA
Posted Tuesday, March 11, 2008

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