Man Charged With Injuring Police Officer

A Nassau County man was arrested Friday in connection with an incident that took place in Melville and left a Suffolk County police officer with minor injuries.

Robert Stein, 54, whose last known address is 1944 Prospect Ave., East Meadow, but who told police he is currently homeless, is charged with second degree assault of a police officer, first degree reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of an incident with injury, two counts of petit larceny and three counts of third degree unlawfully fleeing a police officer.

According to police, Community Oriented Police Enforcement (COPE) officers John McAleavey and Jean Paul Kergaravat were on patrol at the Park and Ride off exit 49 of the Long Island Expressway and noticed a vehicle that was wanted in connection with prior petit larcenies of gasoline.

Police said McAleavey approached the vehicle and asked the man for his license. The driver then suddenly drove forward, hitting the officer with the side view mirror and the officer’s gun belt got caught on the mirror. The man allegedly continued driving with the officer caught on the vehicle for approximately 200 yards before the officer was able to free himself.

McAleavey was treated at Huntington Hospital for lacerations and contusions.

Stein will be held overnight at the Second Precinct and arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on January 26.